More National Guard soldiers head to D.C. and prepare to carry weapons

Defense officials had previously said the 800 National Guard soldiers deployed wouldn't be armed

- Vera Bergengruen, Lara Seligman & Micah Maidenberg

More National Guard troops are heading to Washington, D.C., and they are preparing to start carrying weapons in the coming days, officials say, a major shift that comes days after President Trump said he was deploying them to "take back" the capital from what he described as violent criminals.

Defense officials had previously said the 800 National Guard soldiers deployed wouldn't be armed, unlike many federal law-enforcement agents sent to the capital. They also weren't to have weapons in their vehicles.

"Weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory," the U.S. Army said in a press release Thursday. Late Friday, some Guard members deployed to Washington were told to expect an order to carry weapons, according to people familiar with the planning. As of Saturday morning, however, no formal order had been given, a Defense Department official said.

West Virginia will send approximately 300 to 400 National Guard troops to Washington at the request of the Trump administration, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Saturday. A White House official said that while additional National Guard troops will be called to the district, and might be armed, they aren't making arrests at this time.

Last night, the Guard soldiers conducted roving patrols on foot and in vehicles around the national mall, the official said.