03.04.2026 22:01
Secretary ofDefense Pete Hegseth has rescinded a 34‑year‑old Pentagon rule that barred service members from bringing personal firearms onto military installations when off duty. He signed a memorandum on April 2 that orders all service branches to presume approval for such requests, shifting the burden of proof onto commanders who wish to deny them.
The new guidance, which ends a restriction that has been in effect since 1992 and survived six presidential administrations, requires base commanders to record a specific safety concern before they can legally prohibit a private weapon on a post. Approval is now the default position, rather than the exception.
The announcement comes amid a week of heightened military activity: a U.S. fighter jet was shot down near Iran, and the administration unveiled a record $1.5 trillion defense budget request. Together, these moves underscore what some observers describe as the most aggressive defense posture of President Trump’s second term.
In addition, Hegseth accompanied the memo with a video posted on the social platform X, reinforcing the message that firearms are no longer automatically excluded from U.S. military bases. The directive marks a significant policy shift that will affect the daily practices of service members across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
