As the first of 800 Washington, D.C., National Guard members activated by President Donald Trump to assist with law enforcement in the nation's capital began to arrive Tuesday, they were still waiting to hear from law enforcement what their mission would be.
The Guard has not yet deployed to the city’s streets as Guard officials continue to plan logistics for how they'll support law enforcement efforts. As of Tuesday evening, the Army has not been given a mission by federal law enforcement, an Army spokesman said. Their mission will likely determine the type of weapons they might carry, if any.
“What we’ve been told clearly and distinctly is that we will be in a support role to law enforcement,” the spokesman said.
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About 100 Guard members arrived at the D.C. Armory Tuesday morning to fill out paperwork as part of their in-processing.
Troops load boxes of rifle ammunition at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters as President Donald Trump implements his order to use federal law enforcement and the National Guard to expel homeless people and rid the nation's capital of violent crime, in Washington...Show more ---Show more
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
When asked if they had received any marching orders or instruction, one Guard member told ABC News, "Not really," and clarified they just were told to gather at the armory.
The number of National Guard who will be in-processed -- counting personnel, organizing them and ensuring records are up to date -- is expected to grow over the coming week, eventually rising to the 800 that will be activated for this mission, Defense officials said.
An Army spokesperson said the Guard will work in shifts of 100 to 200 personnel at a time, and they can return home when their shift is done.
Earlier on Tuesday, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Gen. James Mingus, the Army’s vice chief of staff, visited the armory to meet with Guard members and their leaders.
An Army spokesperson told ABC News that Driscoll and Mingus gave the troops somewhat of a pep talk, letting them know they are appreciated.
A member of the District of Columbia National Guard arrives at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Activated Guard members have access to their weapons, but whether they will be armed for their specific missions is a decision that will be made by the commander of what is now known as Joint Task Force D.C.
Like all service members serving in the U.S., the Guard will fall under the Standing Rules for the Use of Force, similar to what was used during the deployment of federalized Guard members to Los Angeles following protests against immigration raids.
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Under those rules, military personnel have the right of self-defense to protect themselves and others, but use de-escalation techniques to minimize the use of force to accomplish their mission.
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Appearing on Fox News on Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the activated Guard troops will have “broad latitude” under existing authorities, but “they're not going to be involved in law enforcement functions.”
Under the law, military troops, including activated Guard personnel, can be used by a president to protect federal property and personnel. But they cannot directly perform law enforcement duties unless the president declares an insurrection.
Earlier this year, Trump activated other Guard personnel in Los Angeles to protect immigration agents conducting raids and arrests. In other parts of the country, Guard personnel have been activated to help law enforcement with administrative work.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll listen during a press briefing with President Donald Trump in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Hegseth said that “They will be standing right alongside our federal agents, like they were in Los Angeles. They're going to be proactive. If you take an action or a shot at them, there will be a consequence.”
He also said they would apply common sense in situations that could quickly become difficult.
“We're not going to have National Guard to sit in there like this," he said with his arms folded, "seeing a crime committed, not do something about it. You can help somebody interdict temporarily detained, like we did in Los Angeles, and hand over to law enforcement.”
“So there's no rogue law enforcement going on from the National Guard,” he added. “But there's also the application of common sense.”