National Guard Troops in Washington, D.C. to be Armed
Some members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. will be armed, according to a recent announcement by the joint task force in the country’s capital. This decision comes after Defense Minister Pete Hegseth ordered National Guard troops to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C. on Friday, citing the need for increased security measures. A spokesman for the joint task force declined to disclose where and when the guards will be armed, citing security concerns.
“The Defense Minister has instructed JTF DC service members to carry their assigned service weapon,” the joint task force in D.C. told CBS News in a statement on Sunday. “The staff of the Task Force works according to the defined rules for the use of violence, which enable the use of violence only as the last way out and exclusively in response to an imminent threat from death or serious bodily harm.”
Escalation of Security Measures
The decision to arm National Guard troops is an escalation in Mr. Trump’s intervention in police work in the country’s capital, with almost 2,000 members of the National Guard stationed in the city. The arrival of hundreds of troops from several states last week has raised concerns among local officials, who say that the initiative is unnecessary. According to the local police, violent crimes in D.C. have decreased in the past year and a half, contradicting Mr. Trump’s claims that crime is on the rise.
Contrasting Views on Security
Mr. Trump has insisted that people in the city are safer than before, but local officials disagree. The city’s police authority and the offices of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A person familiar with the conversations said that the city had been informed of the intention to arm the National Guard at the beginning of the week.
The decision to arm National Guard troops has raised questions about the role of the guard in federal intervention. The troops have not been involved in law enforcement activities and have largely been protecting landmarks, including the National Mall and Union Station, and checking crowds. Some troops have been seen feeding squirrels, helping a woman carry her belongings down the stairs in a train station, and taking photos with passersby.
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Source: www.cbsnews.com
