Hegseth just approved National Guard carrying weapons in DC

[struggle4progress]

4. We went to see what they're up to.

August 23, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. EDTYesterday at 6:00 a.m. EDT
By Michael Brice-Saddler and Daniel Wu

... The Guard has declined to provide deployment locations, citing security concerns, but residents and The Washington Post have seen troops in areas including the National Mall, Nationals Park and Metro stations. While some people see them as an extra layer of security, others question their utility.

Fifty-five percent of city residents said they’ve noticed an increased presence of federal law enforcement in D.C. since Trump’s Aug. 11 order, a Washington Post-Schar School poll found. Eighteen percent of that group said this has made them feel safer, while 61 percent said they feel “less safe,” and 20 percent said the increased presence hasn’t made a difference ...

“It feels very unnecessary. This is not a war zone,” said Dorean Collins, 31, who works at Lee’s Flower Shop in Union Station. “I don’t think I’ve fully processed the fact that there’s an armored vehicle outside.”

Collins, who grew up in D.C. and lives in Northwest Washington, said she had to temporarily close the store Wednesday when her wholesaler could not deliver flowers because of the presence of the Guard and protesters ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/23/national-guard-dc-streets-scene/