Pete Hegseth allows troops to carry personal firearms on military bases

The Guardian US News
by Abené Clayton
April 3, 2026
3 min read

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Defense Secretary Hegseth signed a memo allowing military service members to carry personal firearms on military bases with permission.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo Thursday authorizing military service members to request permission to carry personal firearms on military installations, including bases, naval yards, and recruitment centers. Hegseth framed the policy change as a security measure that would allow troops to defend themselves against potential attacks. The new memo appears to expand on the existing case-by-case approval process, which currently requires weapons to be registered with base authorities and stored securely. The move represents a significant shift in military firearms policy, as bases have traditionally restricted personal weapon carrying to maintain security and prevent unauthorized access to arms. The full text of the memo has not yet been publicly released.

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