Hegseth approves military vehicles for DC National Guard patrols
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the use of 60 police cars, tactical units, and boats for National Guard operations in Washington, keeping troop levels at 3,500.
By Robert Marshall ·
Sixty military police cars will soon appear on the streets of Washington, D.C., following an approval by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The new authorization also permits the National Guard to deploy tactical vehicles, patrol boats, and portable light towers to increase their presence in the capital.
Hegseth signed two memos on Oct. 29 that outline these expanded capabilities. The documents allow troops to carry rifles during specific operations, though they remain prohibited from carrying them inside Metro rail stations. The Pentagon confirmed that the secretary authorized the continued use of National Guard personnel and capabilities to support the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission.
The memos specify that visibility patrols, a core part of the Guard's local mission, will expand. Twenty light towers will be used to enhance force protection in designated patrol zones. The military vehicles must be clearly marked as National Guard, and all troops operating them must wear uniforms. Two patrol boats will provide operational maritime support, while strict rules forbid troops from engaging in high-speed chases.
This deployment builds on the initial surge of National Guard members to D.C. in August 2025, when President Donald Trump deployed troops for what he described as a crime-fighting mission. Since then, Guard members have supported local law enforcement, patrolled neighborhoods, dispersed homeless camps, and assisted with citywide cleanup efforts. The new equipment marks a further integration of military assets into the daily security framework of the capital.
Hegseth stated that the maximum number of deployed Guard members would remain at 3,500. This figure is lower than the summertime peak of approximately 5,000 troops present during America's 250th anniversary celebrations. Currently, nearly 3,100 Guard members from various states are stationed in Washington. Georgia provides the largest contingent with more than 500 members, while the District of Columbia itself has 514 members involved as of Monday.
The memos indicate that troops will take on a larger role in addressing gangs and drug traffickers. Hegseth continues to provide six analysts to address organized drug distribution within D.C. Troops supporting these anti-gang and drug operations will now carry rifles in addition to their standard-issue pistols. One memo grants the U.S. Marshals Service access to the D.C. National Guard's 260th Special Purpose Brigade, a unit that functions as a quick reaction force, to help protect key federal leaders and secure federal facilities.
However, not all requests were approved. A Nov. 4 memo denied the Marshals Service's request for National Guard helicopters or troops to clean up abandoned tires in specific areas of D.C. The expansion comes amid rising issues involving Guard members assigned to the city. Recent incidents include the arrest of a Georgia serviceman for pulling a gun on a fellow Guard member, another arrest for carrying an unauthorized firearm, and the shooting of a Guardsman while attempting to break up a fight.
The District of Columbia has challenged the deployment in federal court. The city sued in September 2025, arguing that the mobilization constitutes an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement. A lower court sided with the city, and a federal appeals court panel heard arguments on Oct. 14. The legal battle continues as the National Guard integrates military-grade equipment into its urban patrol duties.
