National Guard Deployment in Washington DC Extended Until End of Trump Term

The Pentagon confirmed that the National Guard mission in Washington, D.C. will continue until Jan. 20, 2029, or until President Donald Trump terminates it. The deployment, first ordered by Trump in August 2025 to address a surge in violent crime, was originally set to end in 2026 but has been extended by more than two years.

About 5,148 guardsmen are now stationed in the capital, performing duties ranging from emergency response and arrests to snow removal and beautification projects. Officials cite a drop in homicide (‑38%), robbery (‑18%), motor‑vehicle theft (‑53%) and property crime (‑23%) since the deployment began, though assaults with dangerous weapons rose 45% and overall violent crime increased 1%. The presence of the Guard has sparked criticism over cost—over $1 million per day—and a November incident in which one guard was fatally shot and another wounded.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and National Guard Bureau chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus have praised the force for improving safety, while local leaders and some residents question the long‑term need for a federal military presence in the city.