Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Oct. 29 authorized the National Guard in Washington, D.C., to use up to 60 marked patrol cars, military tactical vehicles and patrol boats, plus up to 20 light towers, to support law enforcement, two defense officials told Stars and Stripes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
Related: Hegseth Calls Impeachment Push a “Sham” as House Returns Monday.
What the memos say
The memos say the patrol cars must be marked “National Guard” and troops must be in uniform, The Associated Press reported, according to Stars and Stripes. Two Guard patrol boats will provide “operational maritime support,” and troops may carry rifles during some operations but not in Metro stations, the AP reported. Politico first reported the expansion, Stars and Stripes said.
What the Pentagon said
The Pentagon said Hegseth “authorized the continued use of National Guard personnel and capabilities in support of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission,” Stars and Stripes reported. It is not clear why the decision was made now, according to the report.
The deployment so far
Nearly 3,100 Guard members are in Washington, down from more than 4,500 during America’s 250th anniversary celebrations this summer, Joint Task Force-District of Columbia reported this week, according to Stars and Stripes. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment in August 2025.
Property crime dropped by nearly a quarter after the troop surge, but violent crime rose 3%, according to Metropolitan Police Department data cited by Stars and Stripes. The task force has not been able to provide information on how troops are reducing crime, the report said. Interim D.C. Guard commander Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II said in August that troops have made an impact.
What happens next
Blanchard said in August that the next phase included moving into neighborhoods such as Anacostia and Trinidad, Stars and Stripes reported. More coverage is in Military and on the Military Deployments Tracker.
Sources
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