More than 2,200 National Guard troops are now able to carry their service weapons as they patrol Washington, D.C., in the Trump administration’s effort to crack down on crime and homelessness.

In Chinatown on Sunday, News4 saw dozens of National Guard troops with pistols on their hips.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday authorized National Guard troops in D.C. to begin carrying weapons. A Defense Department official with knowledge of the planning said troops would start patrolling with firearms by Sunday night, NBC News reported.

The majority of the guard members will carry M17 pistols, their service-issued weapons, the official said, while a small number of the troops will be armed with their service M4 rifles.

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