National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. enters second year amid legal challenges and rising costs
About 4,700 National Guard troops continue to patrol Washington, D.C., a deployment that has been extended to 2029, drawing criticism over its legality, effectiveness and $3 billion price tag.
Washington, D.C. – Roughly 4,700 National Guard members, armed and wearing uniforms, have been patrolling the capital for a year as part of a deployment that President Trump extended to Inauguration Day 2029. The troops, deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service, can detain individuals but are not authorized to make arrests.
The deployment, launched in August 2025 after the president declared a "crime emergency," has grown from about 800 guards to its current size, with additional forces arriving from several states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The number of troops is expected to remain high through the fall, despite the lack of clear evidence that the presence has reduced violent crime.
"I worry about these troops standing on street corners fading into the background, and people starting to accept this as just a fact of life," said Joseph Nunn, counsel at the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security program.
Legal challenges continue. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to end the deployment, and a federal judge initially ruled it unlawful. An appeals court later allowed the deployment to proceed while the case is pending, citing the district’s unique status.
"Americans should be concerned about this progression toward the use of the military in situations like the midterms," said Ret. Maj. Gen. Steven Lepper, a former military lawyer who has briefed Congress on the issue.
Cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office and the Project on Government Oversight place the daily expense at roughly $3 million, or about $3 billion through 2029. Retired Gen. Randy Manner warned that the funding diversion could impair the Guard’s readiness for other missions.
Critics, including the ACLU of D.C., argue the deployment was not justified by a genuine emergency and point to the lack of measurable impact on crime rates. Supporters, including the White House, have highlighted the Joint Task Force’s claimed successes without providing detailed data.
The situation has sparked broader concerns about the precedent of using military forces for domestic law-enforcement purposes, especially ahead of upcoming elections.