WASHINGTON, DC — The Pentagon estimates that extending the National Guard deployment in Washington, DC, through January 2029 will cost approximately $1.4 billion, based on an average force of 2,500 troops covering pay, travel, lodging, and meals. A separate Pentagon estimate states the planned deployment will cost $1.43 billion, or $51 million a month, in addition to amounts already spent.

The cost estimate covers fiscal years 2027 through 2029 and projects costs of $605.1 million for fiscal 2027, $625.8 million for fiscal 2028, and $198.3 million for the period from October 1, 2028, through January 2029. The estimate was released in response to questions from Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, with Jules "Jay" W. Hurst III, the nominee for Pentagon comptroller, providing the written response containing the estimate to Senator Warren.

The estimated funds would mainly cover pay and travel allowances for troops, as well as lodging and meals. The total cost of the deployment from August 2025 through the end of President Trump's second term is projected to exceed $2 billion. If the Congressional Budget Office's January estimate was accurate, the cost from August 2025 through September 2026 would exceed $700 million. The Congressional Budget Office projected in January that the DC deployments were costing about $55 million per month.

"While American families are getting flattened by skyrocketing costs, Donald Trump is spending $1.4bn to keep troops on the streets in Washington for years on end," Warren said. "The National Guard are not pawns and taxpayer dollars are not a piggy bank for Trump’s political stunts."

Local officials in Washington have criticized the deployment as an infringement on the city’s autonomy. Democratic lawmakers have argued the deployment has militarized the capital’s streets at public expense. Don and Donna Powell joined a “Free DC” protest against the continued deployment on Monday, August 3, 2026.

"They’re everywhere. They’re just hiding wherever it’s shady," Powell said. "The money spent on the deployment could be spent on healthcare and food for families that need it, and instead we’re wasting our money."

The deployment began in summer 2025 after US President Donald Trump issued an emergency order that the administration claims was meant to fight crime. Armed Guard troops have patrolled city streets, supported arrest operations, and performed tasks including snow removal and beautification projects. The deployments in DC do not appear to have had an appreciable effect on the crime rate.

The National Guard is a reserve military force in the US that can be mobilized for active duty when needed. The National Guard responds to domestic emergencies like natural disasters and civil unrest and supports military operations abroad. The National Guard of the United States was established in 1903.

The Pentagon stated last month that the Guard mission would continue until January 20, 2029, or until terminated by the president. The deployment had previously been extended but was due to expire at the end of 2026. US courts have restricted the use of National Guard soldiers in other parts of the country, but their presence continues in Washington, DC, where the president is the direct commander of the DC Guard.

As of late July 2026, 4,600 military personnel from DC and 23 states and territories remained in Washington, DC. Georgia had roughly 800 National Guard personnel in Washington, DC, which was more than the DC National Guard contingent. Major R Dustin Cole, a spokesperson for the Georgia Air National Guard, said the elevated numbers of Georgia troops were temporary but did not specify withdrawal details. National Guard numbers in Washington, DC swelled to about 5,000 in summer 2026 during celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.

Why It Matters

The projected $1.4 billion cost for extending the National Guard deployment through January 2029 represents a significant long-term financial commitment of taxpayer funds primarily for troop pay, travel, lodging, and meals. This expenditure occurs despite assessments that the presence has not appreciably affected crime rates, while local officials characterize the mission as an infringement on the city's autonomy. The continuation of the deployment in Washington, DC, contrasts with court restrictions on National Guard use elsewhere, relying on the president's direct command authority over the district's forces.