National Guard Arms Personnel Guarding Capitol

Hundreds of National Guard troops inside the Capitol Visitor's Center to reinforce security at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 13, 2021. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

The National Guard troops guarding the U.S. Capitol are authorized to carry firearms, the Army announced Jan. 13.

The personnel were armed on the night of Jan. 12 in response to a request from federal authorities, the D.C. National Guard said in a statement. The arming was greenlit by Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.