Starting Sunday night, fewer than 50 National Guard members in Washington, D.C., will be armed, according to a military official. The Joint Task Force in the capital has not disclosed specific details about where or when the guardsmen will carry weapons, citing security concerns.

A statement from the Joint Task Force confirmed that the Secretary of Defense has directed service members to carry their assigned weapons. The task force operates under established Rules for the Use of Force, which permit the use of force only as a last resort and in response to imminent threats of death or serious bodily harm.

This decision follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's order for National Guard troops to be armed as part of President Trump's law enforcement initiative in the city. The Pentagon did not provide further details on the necessity of this action.

The move marks an escalation in federal intervention in local policing, as nearly 2,000 National Guard members are currently stationed in D.C. This includes hundreds of troops from several Republican-led states who arrived last week. Previously, the Pentagon and Army had stated that troops would not carry weapons.

National Guard personnel have been deployed in D.C. since last week, following President Trump's directive to address what he described as an "epidemic of crime." Federal agents have also been active in the city, and the president has asserted control over the local Metropolitan Police Department.

The role of the National Guard in this federal intervention remains unclear. So far, the troops have not engaged in law enforcement activities but have primarily focused on protecting landmarks, such as the National Mall and Union Station, and assisting with crowd control. Reports indicate that some troops have engaged in light-hearted activities, such as feeding squirrels and helping individuals with their belongings.

Despite President Trump's claims that crime is rising, local officials argue that the initiative is unnecessary. Violent crime in D.C. has been declining over the past year and a half, according to local police data. The city's police department, along with Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the National Guard's new role.

A source familiar with the discussions indicated that the city was informed about the National Guard's intent to be armed, although they were not authorized to disclose specific plans. Spokespeople for the District of Columbia National Guard and the military task force overseeing the troops did not respond to inquiries seeking further information.