🇺🇸⚡️ — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has authorized an expansion of National Guard operations in Washington, D.C., allowing troops to deploy boats, several dozen marked police vehicles, Humvees and light medium tactical vehicles to support law enforcement activities, according to an October 29 memorandum obtained by POLITICO. The expanded deployment, scheduled to continue through the end of the year, is part of President Trump's crackdown on what he has described as a "crime emergency" in the capital. National Guard personnel will assist police during drug enforcement operations using military vehicles, although they remain prohibited from pursuing suspects or making arrests. Guard-operated boats will also provide "perimeter security" during operations targeting suspected gang leaders and drug traffickers in Anacostia, southeastern Washington. The memorandum specifies that the boats will not conduct surveillance on American citizens and that federal law enforcement officers "must always be on board" to carry out arrests, including when suspects attempt to escape into the river.