Some National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., have begun carrying weapons as they patrol streets in the nation’s capital, a Pentagon spokesperson said Sunday. Members of the Joint Task Force-DC

The exact number of troops who would carry their weapons was fluid, but they will either carry M17 pistols or M4 rifles, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The 800 soldiers, in round-the-clock shifts of 100 to 200, will support Washington police and federal law enforcement officers.