Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just gave Washington, D.C. a serious upgrade in law enforcement muscle, signing off on a major expansion of National Guard equipment in the nation’s capital. Two memos, both signed October 29, authorize up to 60 marked patrol cars, Humvees, light medium tactical vehicles, up to 20 light towers and generators, and two Guard patrol boats, all cleared for use through the end of the year.
The Pentagon confirmed Hegseth approved the continued use of Guard personnel and capabilities for the administration’s D.C. crime initiative. The memos also call for expanded “visibility patrols,” which have been a staple of the Guard’s presence in the city. Patrol cars must display “National Guard” markings, troops must be in uniform, high-speed chases are banned, and Guard members may not make arrests using military vehicles. Rifles are permitted during some operations but not inside Metro rail stations.
The two patrol boats are specifically meant to provide perimeter security during Anacostia police operations targeting suspected gang leaders and drug traffickers. Federal officers must be aboard at all times to handle any arrests, including if a suspect tries to flee into the river, and the boats are not authorized to surveil U.S. citizens. The Marshals Service also asked for Guard helicopters and help clearing abandoned tires from parts of the city, but both of those requests were denied. For Hegseth National Guard expansion in D.C., the scope of what was approved is still substantial by any measure.
Now for the political circus running alongside all of this. Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who lost his primary and is heading out the door in January, told CNN he plans to force a House vote on impeaching Hegseth when lawmakers return next week. Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment back in September, accusing Hegseth of waging war on Iran without congressional authorization and killing suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean without judicial process. Speaker Mike Johnson cut the session short before a vote could happen, which tells you just about everything you need to know about how seriously leadership takes this.
Massie said the only thing stopping him now is Hegseth’s resignation. Multiple GOP sources told CNN they expect the measure could pass following Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterms. The White House has made clear that President Trump supports Hegseth and wants him to fight, and the Pentagon was equally blunt, saying Hegseth “will not back down.
It’s worth knowing who exactly is leading this charge. Massie was one of the congressmen pushing for Epstein file releases and has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration throughout his time in office. In his primary race, somewhere between $32 million and $37 million was poured into his opponent, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, including over $15 million from the pro-Israel lobby. The voters sent their message loud and clear, and Massie lost. He’s now spending his final weeks in Congress trying to take down a Cabinet secretary on his way out the door, which is a very specific way to say goodbye.
Hegseth isn’t going anywhere, the boats are on the water, the Humvees are rolling, and somewhere in Kentucky, a lame-duck congressman is drafting impeachment articles that nobody asked for. Washington, D.C. is getting cleaned up whether the outgoing class likes it or not.
