Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized certain National Guard units in Washington to carry service weapons, and troops began patrolling armed under strict use‑of‑force rules.
• President Trump said Chicago and New York are likely next and suggested sending troops to Baltimore, while also questioning federally allocated funds for Maryland’s Key Bridge repairs.
• Pentagon planners have sketched initial options for a Chicago operation, according to news reports, though the Defense Department declined to confirm future deployments.
• Gov. Wes Moore, Gov. JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued Trump lacks authority for such moves, pointing to Title 10 limits and warning of court challenges.
• Rallies and polling in Washington show broad local opposition to the federal takeover as roughly 2,000 Guard members from multiple states support street patrols under constraints including the Posse Comitatus Act.