Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has authorized off-duty service members to carry privately-owned firearms on base.

“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.

Hegseth said that recent mass shooter incidents on military bases highlighted the need for personnel to be able to carry privately-owned firearms on bases to return fire and neutralize threats on base as they arose.

Specifically, Hegseth mentioned the December 2019 terrorist attack at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, which killed three men and injured eight others; the August 2025 shooting and wounding of five soldiers by one of their fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart, Georgia; and the shooting of two individuals — one whom died — at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in March.

“Recent events … have made clear that some threats are closer to home than we would like,” he said, adding, “In these instances, minutes are a lifetime, and our service members have the courage and training to make those precious short minutes count.”

The memo to senior Pentagon leadership, defense agency and War Department field activity directors titled “Non-Official Personal Protection Arming on Department of War Property,” states that the new policy is consistent with section 526 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.