Finally: Hegseth Authorizes Service Members To Carry Firearms on Base

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a landmark memorandum that finally allows American uniformed service members to receive permission to carry their privately owned firearms for personal protection while off duty on U.S. military installations. This long-overdue policy corrects years of treating our nation’s warfighters as second-class citizens when it comes to their Second Amendment rights. And it allows them to carry personal firearms instead of leaving them defenseless in military gun-free zones.

For far too long, highly trained service members have been left vulnerable despite their skills and daily commitment to defending the country. As Hegseth said in his announcement, “Before today, it was virtually impossible for War Department personnel to get permission to carry and store their own personal weapons aligned with state laws,” Hegseth stated in a video announcement. “Well, that’s no longer the case.”

Our military installations have been turned into gun-free zones—leaving our service members vulnerable and exposed.

That ends today. pic.twitter.com/IQ204YepZ0

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) April 2, 2026

The memo directs installation commanders to review requests with a clear presumption of approval, recognizing that our service members—entrusted with the nation’s safety—are no less entitled to self-defense than any other American.  Hegseth emphasized that the Second Amendment applies to everyone in uniform, who meet the highest training standards.

Hegseth cited tragic recent incidents where armed personnel might have stopped or limited the damage during attacks: the 2019 terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola that killed three and injured eight; the August 2025 shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia, wounding five soldiers; and the March 2026 domestic-related shooting at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, that left one dead and one injured. “Recent events have made clear that some threats are closer to home,” Hegseth noted. “In these instances, minutes are a lifetime, and our service members have the courage and training to make those precious minutes count.”

Under Hegseth’s new policy, any denials of carry requests must be in writing, explaining “the reason for that denial will be in writing and will explain — in detail — the basis for that [decision].” At the Pentagon, personnel can now at least store firearms in their vehicles, though carrying inside the building remains restricted.

Meanwhile the people who have claimed for decades that only police and the military can be trusted with firearms, are now shrieking that members of the military can’t be trusted with firearms.

The change in policy is a long overdue step in the direction of common sense. Our troops swear an oath to protect America, often facing domestic threats as well as foreign ones. Recognizing their God-given right to self-defense isn’t just fair—it’s essential. Hopefully, authorization for licensed civilians to carry on bases will follow soon, further strengthening security for everyone who lives and works on these installations as well as visitors.

From the US Department of War:

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to allow War Department personnel — namely, uniformed service members — to request to carry privately owned firearms while in their nonofficial duty capacity on DOW property within the United States.

“Before today, it was virtually impossible … for War Department personnel to get permission to carry and store their own personal weapons aligned with the state laws where we operate our installations. … Well, that’s no longer,” Hegseth said during a social media video released today.

“The memo I’m signing today directs installation commanders to allow requests for personal protection — to carry a privately owned firearm — with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection,” he continued.

At the video’s outset, Hegseth said the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment applies to all Americans, including those in uniform.

“The War Department’s uniformed service members are trained at the highest and unwavering standards. These warfighters — entrusted with the safety of our nation — are no less entitled to exercise their God-given right to keep and bear arms than any other American,” Hegseth said.