Hegseth expands National Guard presence in DC
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cleared National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., to use boats, Humvees and police cars.
The move expands the Guard's domestic law enforcement role amid a pending legal fight.
Background
Pete Hegseth is the U.S. defense secretary (called "war secretary" in one report), and Donald Trump is the president. In August 2025 Trump signed an executive order tasking Hegseth with building National Guard units trained and equipped for public order issues, described as the clearest sign yet of expanding the military's role in domestic law enforcement. At least 2,500 National Guard members have patrolled D.C. streets since last August, and the District has been pushing back on the deployment.
How it unfolded
- Aug 25, 2025President Donald Trump signed an executive order tasking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with establishing "specialized units" in the National Guard trained and equipped for public order issues.
- Mar 22, 2026At least 2,500 National Guard members had patrolled D.C. streets since last August; officials told ABC News a plan to keep Guard members in D.C. until 2029 was finalized and awaiting Hegseth's signature.
- Nov 5, 2026Hegseth authorized National Guard troops in Washington to use boats, marked police cars and military vehicles to support law enforcement, clearing boats, Humvees, light medium tactical vehicles and several dozen marked police vehicles.
Key terms
- National Guard
- The organized militia of the United States and a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- executive order
- A legal instrument issued by a government's executive branch under authority granted by law.
- stay
- A court ruling that halts further legal process in a trial or other proceeding.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Hegseth said the National Guard is "really proud to be a part of defending the nation's capital and ensuring it is safe and beautiful, and working with law enforcement," and that guard members deployed to the district "love this mission."
- Official
- A Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of War is committed to supporting the president's mission to address the "epidemic of crime in the nation's capital," adding there are no announcements to make at this time.
- Caution
- D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said on the deployment litigation that the attorney general won preliminarily, then it went to the court of appeals where there was a stay, and "it's all pending."
Still unverified
A Pentagon plan to keep National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C. until 2029, the end of Trump's term, is described as alleged; officials told ABC News the plan was finalized last year and is awaiting Hegseth's signature. A judge also ruled the National Guard deployment into D.C. was illegal; that ruling faces appeal and the litigation is pending.