US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the National Guard personnel patrolling the streets of Washington DC to be armed, as the Trump administration's crackdown on crime in the capital continues.
Trump ordered troops to Washington earlier in August and took control of its police force to combat what he described as "out of control" crime in the city.
Just last week, the Pentagon and US Army said that troops involved in the deployment - which now number approximately 2,000 - would not carry weapons.
While the Trump administration has lauded the mission, polls show it is deeply unpopular with many residents in staunchly Democratic Washington.
In a statement, the Pentagon said that National Guard troops "will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training".
