Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo late last week authorizing National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C., to carry weapons if their mission requires it. The memo, according to one official, was addressed to the chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Secretary of the Army.

The National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C., will begin carrying weapons on Sunday evening just two days after given authorization by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon by email outside of normal business hours on Sunday evening for comment.