National Guard Washington patrols will become more visible and more heavily equipped after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth signed memos authorising Humvees, marked patrol cars, patrol boats and rifles for troops on the streets of the capital.

The two memos, signed on October 29, 2026 and obtained by the Associated Press, expand what the Pentagon calls "visibility patrols" and give Guard troops a bigger role in operations against gangs and drug traffickers. The new authority runs through the end of 2026 and was first reported by Politico. It follows recent incidents involving deployed troops, including the arrest of a Georgia serviceman accused of pulling a gun on a fellow Guard member and the shooting of a Guardsman breaking up a fight.

Key Points

• Hegseth signed two memos on October 29, 2026 authorising expanded National Guard patrols in Washington.
• Troops may use up to 60 marked military police cars, Humvees and other tactical vehicles, two patrol boats, and up to 20 light towers and generators.
• Guard members in anti-gang and drug operations may now carry rifles as well as pistols, but not inside Metro stations.
• The US Marshals Service may use the DC Guard's 260th Special Purpose Brigade to protect key federal leaders and facilities.
• Troops remain barred from pursuing suspects or making arrests, and the force is capped at 3,500.

What Happened

The memos authorise up to 60 marked military police cars alongside tactical vehicles including Humvees and light medium tactical vehicles, two patrol boats, and up to 20 light towers and generators. Patrol cars must be marked "National Guard" and troops must be in uniform, so the expanded presence is meant to be seen as much as felt.

The biggest change concerns weapons. Until now, Guard troops on Washington's streets have generally carried pistols. Under the new authorisation, troops backing anti-gang and drug operations may now carry rifles as well. That authority does not extend everywhere: rifles are not permitted in Metro rail stations, reflecting the crowded, enclosed nature of the transit system.

The memos also widen the Guard's role: the US Marshals Service may use the DC Guard's 260th Special Purpose Brigade to protect key federal leaders and facilities, and troops will play a bigger role against "gangs and drug traffickers". The two patrol boats will provide perimeter security for police operations in Anacostia. The Pentagon confirmed the move, saying Hegseth "authorised the continued use of National Guard personnel and capabilities in support of the Make DC Safe and Beautiful mission".

Background: The DC Deployment So Far

The National Guard presence in Washington began in the summer, when the administration launched the "Make DC Safe and Beautiful" mission and sent troops into the capital to support local police. At its peak, the deployment reached about 5,000 Guard members drawn from the District and from states across the country.

Hegseth has now capped the deployed force at 3,500, below that summer peak. Nearly 3,100 Guard members are currently in Washington, including more than 500 from Georgia, one of the largest out-of-state contingents. The cap suggests the administration wants a smaller but more visibly equipped force, with heavier vehicles and rifles replacing sheer numbers.

National Guard Washington Patrols: What Changes on the Ground

For Washington residents, the practical change will be hard to miss. Sixty marked military police cars, Humvees and light medium tactical vehicles will join the patrols that already move through the city, and light towers and generators will extend the Guard's presence into the night. The two patrol boats add a waterborne element focused on the Anacostia riverfront.

What does not change is just as important. The memos forbid high-speed chases, and troops may not pursue suspects or make arrests. Those limits keep the Guard in a supporting role: visible, armed and equipped, but still backing up the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement rather than replacing them.

The rifle authorisation is the sharpest edge of the expansion. Carrying a rifle on a street patrol is a different signal from carrying a sidearm, both to the public and to the troops themselves, and the decision to exclude Metro stations shows the Pentagon is aware of that. The 260th Special Purpose Brigade's role is a quieter but significant change, moving the Guard closer to the core of federal security.

Reactions

The Pentagon's public statement was brief, confirming that Hegseth "authorised the continued use of National Guard personnel and capabilities in support of the Make DC Safe and Beautiful mission" without elaborating on the rifle decision or the new equipment. The administration has consistently presented the Washington deployment as a response to crime in the capital, and the memos' language about a bigger role against "gangs and drug traffickers" fits that framing. No reaction from the District's government or the Metropolitan Police Department was included in the initial reporting.

Why It Matters

The expansion changes the character of the federal presence in the capital: a patrol in a marked Humvee with a rifle is different from a foot patrol with a sidearm, and the administration clearly wants that visibility, describing the patrols as "visibility patrols" and requiring marked cars and uniforms.

It also tests the limits of the National Guard in a domestic policing role: the memos keep the formal limits — no chases, no pursuits, no arrests — but push the Guard further into daily policing with heavier weapons and a wider brief. And it sets the terms for the rest of the year, with the expanded patrols in place through the holiday season and into the new Congress. Read our report on the National Guard assisting the midterm elections in seven states.

What Happens Next

The new equipment should appear on Washington's streets in the coming days as units adjust patrol routines. The rifle authorisation will apply first to troops assigned to anti-gang and drug operations. The longer question is what happens when the authority expires at the end of the year: the administration must decide whether to renew the expanded patrols, scale them back or let them lapse, after the new Congress is seated. Read our earlier report on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the speculation over a Tennessee Senate seat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Pete Hegseth approve for the National Guard in Washington?

Two memos signed on October 29, 2026 authorise up to 60 marked military police cars, Humvees and other tactical vehicles, two patrol boats, up to 20 light towers and generators, and rifles for troops in anti-gang and drug operations.

Can National Guard troops carry rifles in Washington now?

Yes, but only troops backing anti-gang and drug operations, and not inside Metro stations. Until now, troops generally carried pistols.

How many National Guard troops are in Washington?

Nearly 3,100 Guard members are deployed, over 500 of them from Georgia. Hegseth capped the force at 3,500, below the summer peak of about 5,000.

Can the Guard chase suspects or make arrests?

No. The memos forbid high-speed chases, and troops may not pursue suspects or make arrests. They support civilian law enforcement rather than replacing it.

How long does the new authorisation last?

It runs through the end of 2026. Any extension would require a further decision from the defence secretary.