The Pentagon is planning to keep the National Guard in the District of Columbia through the end of President Trump’s second term, meaning the federal mission would extend through Jan. 20, 2029, according to multiple reports.
The plan, reportedly finalized late last year, is in its final stages and awaiting final approval from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“The Department of War is committed to supporting the President’s mission to address the epidemic of crime in our Nation’s capital,” Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement. “There are no announcements to make at this time.”
Their deployment was previously set to end in 2025 before it was extended until the end of 2026.
Over 2,500 National Guard troops are currently deployed in Washington, part of the Trump administration’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative, which kicked off in August.
At the time, local leaders argued that crime had been trending downward since 2023. Guard troops have become a constant presence in the city, patrolling Metro stations, the National Mall and other downtown areas. Members are also used for city beautification efforts, such as cleaning graffiti or picking up litter.
Mr. Trump previously said he would take over the city’s police department and send in the National Guard to combat “complete and total lawlessness” — part of a broader effort to send guard members into U.S. cities to assist law enforcement.
Mr. Trump repeatedly characterized the mission in the nation’s capital as a “big success.”
But the initiative faced criticism, with opponents arguing that the Trump administration had intervened with the city’s autonomy. The District is suing the Trump administration over the deployment.
Troops were withdrawn from cities including Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland following Supreme Court rulings against the deployments. The court found the administration lacked sufficient legal authority to federalize the troops for domestic law enforcement against state objections.
Two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot near the White House in November. Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died of her injuries, while Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head.
