The Pentagon is moving forward with a plan to keep National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C., until Inauguration Day 2029, a Guard official confirmed Tuesday. The proposal, first reported in March and still awaiting final sign-off from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, would extend the federal mission in the capital through Jan. 20, 2029, unless the president intervenes.
The Hill's inquiries were redirected by the Pentagon to the Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, which then pointed to the White House. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Currently, nearly 5,150 Guard members are stationed in the city, comprising 599 from the D.C. National Guard and 4,403 from 21 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The deployment began almost a year ago, when the federal government temporarily took over D.C. law enforcement via presidential executive order and established the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
Troop levels were around 3,500 initially but were boosted as part of a “summer surge” ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, according to Justice Department officials. That increase has drawn sharp criticism from local officials and Democratic lawmakers, who argue the deployment is unnecessary, costly, lacks a clear strategy, and is largely ineffective since Guardsmen cannot make arrests and patrol areas that already have lower crime rates.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the deployment costs over $3 million per day. The Project on Government Oversight projects total costs could range from $2.5 billion to $3.4 billion, depending on troop numbers. Despite the expense, a study by the Niskanen Center found that the Guard presence has not reduced violent crime in the capital. While it led to a 24% drop in opportunistic property crime, the think tank concluded the Guard is not the right tool for violent offenses and comes at a far higher cost than traditional policing.
Earlier this month, protesters from the “Free DC” movement heckled Defense Secretary Hegseth and other administration officials during a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force event at Meridian Hill Park. Demonstrators blew whistles and horns, drowning out officials who praised the Guard and law enforcement for lowering crime and improving safety.
Most states contributing troops have Republican governors, but Democrat-led states including Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Hawaii have also sent Guard members for America 250 events. This has stirred controversy, particularly after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz pulled his troops early following reports they were patrolling neighborhoods far from the National Mall, contrary to his orders that they only assist with anniversary events near national monuments, as reported by NPR.
Tragedy struck in November when two West Virginia Guard members were shot the day before Thanksgiving while on patrol. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries, and Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe is recovering after being shot in the head. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the deployment’s safety and purpose.
As the Pentagon awaits Hegseth’s final approval, the extended mission underscores ongoing tensions between federal authorities and local D.C. governance, with critics questioning the long-term strategy and cost of militarizing the capital’s streets.
