Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 546-2026, establishing the first formal policy governing the carrying of firearms in government buildings and workspaces across the U.S. Virgin Islands, including all locations on St. Thomas.
The order addresses a long-standing gap in workplace safety rules by prohibiting firearms in government buildings except in limited circumstances. The policy applies to all Territory government offices, creating a unified standard for employees, residents, and visitors across St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island.
Why This Matters Now
For decades, the Virgin Islands government operated without a written firearms policy in its buildings, leaving department heads and facility managers to make inconsistent decisions about security and access. The new executive order closes that loophole by establishing clear expectations for who can and cannot bring weapons into government spaces.
The move comes as the Territory modernizes its broader firearm laws following recent guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal lawsuit raising questions about the USVI’s existing regulations. Bryan’s administration has signaled that it intends to balance constitutional rights with public safety protections.
How the Policy Works
Under the new order, firearms are generally prohibited in all government workspaces. The one exception: peace officers actively performing their duties may carry weapons as part of their job responsibilities.
In “extremely limited cases,” the government may grant a waiver allowing a licensed gun owner to carry a firearm into a government building for a specific, documented purpose. Such waivers require written approval from two separate officials: the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner. The order does not detail what circumstances might qualify for a waiver or how often such requests might be granted.
The policy will be incorporated into the Government Employees Handbook, making it binding guidance for all Territory workers.
Background and Context
The original executive order governing government employee conduct dated back to 1961, nearly two-thirds of a century ago. That decades-old directive addressed responsibilities and conduct but never explicitly addressed firearms in the workplace, creating ambiguity about what was and was not permitted.
The absence of a clear policy meant that security practices likely varied significantly across government buildings on St. Thomas and the other islands. Some departments may have screened for weapons; others may not have had procedures in place at all.
Bryan’s order comes as part of a broader legislative effort to modernize the Territory’s firearm laws. In February, the governor proposed the Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety Act, a bill aimed at updating Virgin Islands regulations in response to recent Supreme Court decisions on gun ownership and carry laws. The federal government also filed a lawsuit challenging aspects of existing USVI firearm statutes.
Safety and Access Concerns
Government buildings in the Territory serve as critical touchpoints where residents access services: paying bills, renewing licenses, filing documents, seeking permits, and accessing social services. The new policy signals that the administration views these spaces as places where public safety must be prioritized.
By restricting firearms to peace officers on duty, the order aims to provide a consistent, safe environment for government workers and the public. Employees across departments will no longer face uncertainty about weapons in their workspaces.
The requirement that both the Attorney General and Police Commissioner approve any waiver creates a high bar for exceptions, ensuring that decisions are reviewed by two independent offices with responsibility for law and public safety.
What Happens Next
The executive order takes effect immediately and will be formally added to the Government Employees Handbook. All Territory agencies must implement and enforce the policy.
The policy’s effectiveness will depend on how consistently it is applied across government facilities on St. Thomas and the other islands, and whether adequate security measures and staff training are in place to support it. The order itself does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violations.
As the Bryan administration continues to reshape Virgin Islands firearm law through the proposed Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety Act, this executive order represents one concrete step toward clarifying how weapons are regulated in government spaces where residents and workers intersect daily.
