Politics · India Bureau
US Defense Secretary authorizes expanded National Guard patrols in Washington
The US Defense Secretary has approved significantly increased National Guard presence in the nation's capital, including military vehicles and armed personnel working alongside local law enforcement. The move marks an escalation in the deployment that began earlier this year.
LSN India ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the National Guard to substantially expand its operations in Washington, according to memos signed on October 29. The approvals permit the deployment of 60 military police vehicles, tactical units, patrol boats, and portable lighting systems for enhanced patrols throughout the capital. The authorization also allows troops to carry rifles during certain operations, though weapons are restricted from use in Metro rail stations. The expanded deployment represents a deepening integration between National Guard personnel and local law enforcement agencies operating in the city. The approval builds on an initiative launched by President Donald Trump in August 2025, which he framed as a crime-fighting operation. Since then, National Guard members have conducted neighborhood patrols, assisted with dispersing homeless encampments, and supported various law enforcement operations across the district. The visible presence of military vehicles and armed personnel in urban settings has drawn attention from observers tracking the evolution of security operations in the nation's capital. The latest authorization underscores the administration's commitment to maintaining an enhanced military presence in Washington as part of its public safety strategy.