Overview

• National Guard troops in Washington are carrying firearms under a limited rules-of-engagement that permits use only as a last resort against imminent deadly threats.
• More than 2,200 Guard members are deployed in the city, including reinforcements from Republican-led states, with patrols concentrated in tourist and nightlife areas.
• A new presidential decree creates a specialized DC National Guard unit and directs expanded rapid‑response training for Guard forces across the country.
• Trump has signaled possible deployments to Chicago and Baltimore, while Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker rejects any emergency and points to improving crime trends.
• The president says prosecutors will seek the death penalty for murders in Washington, a pledge with uncertain legal footing as DHS and ICE conduct stepped-up raids in migrant neighborhoods.