Move to arm all 2,375 estimated troops marks shift in rules of engagement for domestic military deployments

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that every national guard member deployed in Washington DC would now be armed with live weapons, and that they had begun conducting joint patrols with the local police department.

The directivefollows the ambush shooting of two guard members near the White House last week, an incident that has prompted the Trump administration to order hundreds of additional troops to the city. One of the national guard members has since died from her injuries.

The escalation also comes as a recent order finding the national guard deployment in Washington DC unlawful is on hold, pending consideration of the Trump administration’s appeal.