The Pentagon has confirmed that every National Guard service member currently deployed in Washington, D.C. is now armed with live weapons and has begun joint patrols with local police, following a deadly attack on two Guard members near the White House.

The change marks a sharp escalation in the rules of engagement for troops stationed in the nation’s capital.

The decision comes in the wake of the November 26 ambush in which an Afghan-born man opened fire on two members of the West Virginia National Guard — killing Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.

In response, the Pentagon authorised a reinforcement of roughly 500 additional troops, swelling the total Guard presence in Washington to approximately 2,375.

Pentagon officials said the move to fully arm the Guard was necessary in light of “ongoing urban security threats.” Under the new posture, National Guard members carry service-issued weapons and may undertake patrols alongside Metropolitan Police officers.

The deployment follows a controversial federal takeover of D.C. policing earlier this year, ordered by the administration of President Donald J. Trump.

The shift has already drawn scrutiny from civil-rights groups and local residents, who warn that arming troops in civilian areas could exacerbate tensions and raise the risk of escalation.

The Guard’s official rules limit the use of force “only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.” Nonetheless, critics argue the deployment blurs the line between military and law enforcement in the heart of a U.S. city.

The timing is politically sensitive.

A federal court recently ruled the broader Guard deployment — intended to curb crime and support immigration enforcement — to be unlawful, ordering the withdrawal of out-of-state troops by December 11. The administration has appealed that decision, and the new arming order may complicate ongoing legal challenges.

Supporters among federal and local officials say the arming of the Guard is a necessary step to safeguard both those servicemembers and civilians as the capital faces evolving security risks.

For now, the heightened posture signals a significant recalibration of domestic force use under the current administration.

News of the full arming was first publicly disclosed by the Pentagon on December 2, less than a week after the fatal shooting.

The Guard will remain on patrol under the new rules until further notice, pending both legal outcomes and security evaluations.