The Pentagon announced that all National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C., are now armed with live weapons and are conducting joint patrols with local police.

This escalation follows the ambush shooting of two guards near the White House last week, which left one dead and prompted the Trump administration to deploy hundreds more troops.

The move marks a significant shift in domestic rules of engagement, as many guard units traditionally perform support roles rather than armed policing.

Officials emphasized that all troops are trained and qualified on their assigned weapons, but concerns remain about readiness for street-level law enforcement, The Guardian has reported.

The deployment is currently under legal scrutiny, with a previous order declaring it unlawful on hold pending the administration’s appeal.