A new directive from Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth allowing service members to request permission to carry privately owned firearms on military installations is not expected to significantly impact operations at Redstone Arsenal, according to local officials.
The order, announced on Thursday, directs installation commanders across the country to allow uniformed personnel to apply to carry personal firearms for off-duty protection on Department of War property.
The policy establishes a “presumption of approval,” meaning requests should generally be granted unless there is a clear reason for denial, which must be documented in writing.
The directive also aligns with existing federal law and requires updates to Department of War security policies to formalize the process. While it expands access for service members, it does not apply broadly to civilians or contractors working on installations.
At Redstone Arsenal, where the vast majority of the workforce is not active-duty military, officials say the overall effect will likely be minimal.
“We’re 98% civilian. So I would say it’s probably not going to have a huge effect on Redstone,” the installation’s Public Affairs Office said when asked about the policy.
Located in Madison County, Redstone is considered a federal center of excellence focused on research, development and logistics rather than a traditional combat-focused base.
The installation employs more than 45,000 people, including roughly 27,000 civilians and more than 17,000 contractors, while active-duty military personnel make up only a small fraction of the workforce.
In announcing the directive, Hegseth emphasized both constitutional rights and security concerns, stating that service members should be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights on base.
“Recent events … have made clear that some threats are closer to home than we would like,” Hegseth said, pointing to past shootings and attacks on U.S. military installations.
He cited incidents including the 2019 terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola, a 2025 shooting at Fort Stewart and a recent shooting at Holloman Air Force Base as examples of situations where armed personnel could potentially respond more quickly to threats.
“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime,” Hegseth said, adding that trained service members could help reduce harm during such events.
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.
The policy change comes as defense leaders continue to reassess security measures at installations nationwide, balancing force protection with expanded permissions for those in uniform.
