War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that he was ending the policy that turned U.S. military installations into “gun-free zones,” declaring in a brief video statement, “That ends today.”
Hegseth signed a memorandum stating that base commanders should allow service members to request permission to carry their privately-owned firearms while off duty — regardless of any firearm regulations imposed by the states in which the bases were located — and shared video explaining the move.
WATCH:
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
“Our great republic is founded on a simple, yet bold idea,” Hegseth began, saying that the nation was built the idea that rights were given to the people by God rather than by the government. “250 years ago, the Revolutionary War was fought to secure our God-given rights. The Second Amendment to our Constitution enshrines the right of all citizens to carry weapons to protect themselves, their families, and their fellow countrymen.”
Hegseth went on to point out that America’s men and women in uniform were already well-trained in the use of firearms and should not be barred from exercising their rights simply because they were on a military installation.
“Our warfighters defend the right of others to carry; they should be able to carry themselves,” he added.
Hegseth went on to cite recent attacks on military installations, arguing that if trained service members were allowed to arm themselves, such threats could potentially be neutralized in shorter order.
“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime,” he explained. “And our service members have the courage and training to make those precious, short minutes count. 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.”
“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 added.
The policy effectively turning military bases into gun-free zones — Department of Defense Directive 5210.56 — went into effect in February of 1992, and restricted on-base carrying to “DoD personnel regularly engaged in law-enforcement and security duties.”
President Donald Trump, during his first presidential campaign in 2015, spoke out against the policy and said that he would ensure that “America’s armed forces will be armed.”
Trump said at the time that the United States “never should have passed a ban on soldiers being able to protect themselves on bases … Our brave soldiers should not be at risk because of policy created by civilian leadership.”
