Pentagon Arms Every National Guard Troop in Washington, D.C., After Ambush Near White House

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that every National Guard service member deployed in Washington, D.C., has been issued live weapons and that many guardsmen have begun conducting joint patrols with the Metropolitan Police Department. Officials said the move follows an ambush-style shooting near the White House that wounded multiple guardsmen and resulted in one death.

Officials' statement

At a briefing, press secretary Kingsley Wilson confirmed the change in posture:

“I can confirm that everybody in DC is now armed, and a lot of our DC national guardsmen are now also doing joint patrols with members of the police department here in DC.”

Scale and operational shift

Commanders have armed roughly 2,375 troops currently stationed in the capital, in addition to about 500 service members ordered to Washington last week. Military and federal officials describe the change as a notable shift in the rules of engagement for domestic military deployments, emphasizing mission needs and force protection.

Training, roles and concerns

All Army National Guard soldiers complete basic combat training, which includes weapons qualification. However, ongoing proficiency and tactical training vary by military occupational specialty. The Guard includes combat-arms, combat-support, and combat-service-support units; many personnel assigned to domestic missions perform support roles and do not routinely operate in law enforcement settings. Critics warn that arming personnel without specific policing training raises risks of escalation and complicates rules for use of force in crowded urban environments.

Legal and policy context

The rapid arming comes amid legal challenges to the deployment. A court order that previously found aspects of the National Guard presence in Washington unlawful is currently on hold while the administration appeals. The Joint Task Force overseeing the deployment said members have been trained on their assigned weapons and are operating under established rules of engagement consistent with mission requirements and Department of Defense standards.

The attack and suspect

The shooting occurred near the Farragut West Metro station, just blocks from the White House. The attack killed 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and left 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. Authorities have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who reportedly served in Afghanistan’s Zero Unit. Lakanwal was shot during the incident, is receiving medical treatment, and now faces upgraded first-degree murder charges.

Immigration review

In the hours after the attack, federal authorities suspended processing of certain immigration requests for Afghan nationals and said they are broadening a review of asylum approvals granted under the previous administration. Officials have not confirmed whether the review will specifically target particular nationalities beyond Afghanistan.

Outlook

The national presence has been visible in Washington since August after an executive order declaring a crime emergency. Military and civilian leaders say their priority is protecting the public and supporting civil authorities; civil liberties advocates and some legal experts say the rapid expansion of armed forces on city streets warrants careful oversight and clear standards for policing and accountability.