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1h ago

Pentagon Moves to Arm D.C. Guard as Trump Eyes Chicago, New York Expansion

The order escalates a federal operation in the capital that opponents argue lacks a public-safety basis given falling violent crime.

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 14: Protesters give a thumbs down gesture while march through the past Trump tower as part of a nation wide "No Kings" demonstration on June 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Hundreds of marches and protests against the Trump administration are happening across the United States today in opposition to Trump's presidency as well as the military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army taking place in Washington, DC. Today's parade coincides with President Trump's birthday. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized Joint Task Force–DC troops to carry service-issued weapons, reversing earlier assurances that Guardsmen would patrol unarmed.
  • President Trump said Chicago is probably the next city for a federal anti-crime push, with New York to follow, and he signaled willingness to use the regular military and consider a broader D.C. takeover.
  • Roughly 1,900 to 2,000 National Guard members are deployed in Washington from the District and several Republican-led states, with the D.C. Guard commander retaining authority over force posture.
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi reported 630 arrests and 86 illegal guns seized in Washington since the surge began, as the administration touts daily enforcement tallies.
  • U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro directed prosecutors to file the most serious supported charges and adjusted certain local gun-possession practices, even as DOJ and MPD data show violent crime has declined from 2023 to 2024.