Some troops now carrying weapons in DC: Pentagon

(The Hill) -- Some National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., have begun carrying weapons as they patrol streets in the nation’s capital, a Pentagon spokesperson said Sunday.

Members of the Joint Task Force-DC began carrying service-issue weapons on Sunday evening, the spokesperson said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed an order last week authorizing the move.

The directive stipulates that the use of force is only permitted “as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm,” according to a statement from a Pentagon spokesperson.

“JTF-DC remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of the residents of the District of Columbia,” the spokesperson added.

A defense official told The Associated Press that only troops on certain m