President Donald Trump has chosen to keep National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., until the end of his second term. This decision is expected to cost taxpayers an additional $1.4 billion. A new report from The Washington Post, based on data provided to Congress, outlines the financial implications of this deployment from October 2026 through January 2029. It offers the most detailed account so far of the administration’s extensive use of military personnel in the nation’s capital.
The projected cost comes as Trump continues to highlight the deployment’s role in reducing crime rates across Washington. In his State of the Union address on February 24, he stated that crime rates in Washington have reached historical lows. The administration attributes this to falling homicide rates and other crime statistics, seeing them as evidence of a successful public safety strategy. Critics argue that the operation is overly expensive and question whether the National Guard is responsible for the decline.
The estimated cost emerged during the confirmation process of Jules Hurst III, Trump’s nominee for Pentagon comptroller, who provided the information to Senator Elizabeth Warren. The $1.4 billion figure assumes an average of about 2,500 Guard personnel despite the current number being nearly 4,600 to cover various national events in Washington, including celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The deployment, which began in August 2025 after the attempted carjacking and assault of Edward Coristine, continues to spark political debates. Democrats and civil rights advocates criticize the use of military personnel in domestic operations, labeling it as unnecessary federal overreach and a waste of taxpayer money. The Trump administration has sought additional funding for broader defense and emergency spending, including the D.C. mission.
Defense officials defend the deployment, arguing that troops provide valuable support beyond typical law enforcement duties. Brigadier General Leland Blanchard II mentioned that Guard members have responded to around 800 medical emergencies and performed other public support tasks, such as security and cleanup operations around the city.
There is a central question about whether this deployment is indeed reducing crime in Washington. While crime rates have fallen significantly, experts caution that multiple factors influence public safety trends, such as police staffing and broader national patterns. Statistics show a notable crime decrease, with homicides dropping from a peak of 226 in 2021 to 127 in 2025.
The Trump administration maintains that federal intervention is necessary for keeping Washington safe, crediting the increased law enforcement presence. However, critics, including Senator Warren, dispute the necessity and cost of deploying additional troops when crime has already declined significantly. She voiced concern over the expense during a period of rising costs for American families.
“The National Guard are not pawns, and taxpayer dollars are not a piggy bank for Trump’s political stunts,” Warren stated.
The ongoing debate centers on the cause of crime reductions, with supporters attributing it to the deployment’s visible security presence, while critics argue the evidence does not conclusively prove the National Guard’s impact. With Washington’s crime decline mirroring broader national trends, questions about the deployment’s necessity remain.
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