War Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized an expanded National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., including the use of vehicles typically used by U.S. troops in combat zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
The expansion, detailed in an Oct. 29 memo obtained by POLITICO, will remain in place through the end of the year and is intended to support law enforcement operations. The memo does not explain why the move is being made now.
The newly authorized equipment includes boats, several dozen marked police vehicles, Humvees and light medium tactical vehicles. The boats will provide “perimeter security” for police operations targeting suspected gang leaders and drug traffickers in Anacostia, but will not conduct surveillance on U.S. citizens. Hegseth stated that federal officers must always be aboard Guard vessels to help arrest suspects, including anyone attempting to escape by jumping into the river.
National Guard members will support law enforcement operations, including drug busts, but cannot pursue suspects or make arrests. They are authorized to conduct patrols and carry firearms, but are prohibited from carrying bayonets, using intelligence assets, employing helicopters or conducting law enforcement activity.
Trump first deployed Guard troops to Washington in August 2025 after declaring a “crime emergency” in the capital. The mission has been extended several times and is now expected to continue through Inauguration Day 2029.
The number of personnel has fluctuated, reaching approximately 5,000 over the summer, with forces drawn from 20 states and Puerto Rico. Because Washington is a federal district, Trump serves as commander in chief of its National Guard.
