Hegseth extends National Guard deployment to DC until February
The U.S. Department of Defense, under War Secretary Pete Hegseth, has extended the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. until February 2026. This marks the second extension since President Donald trump initially ordered the troops to the capital in August to help combat crime and enhance public safety. Currently, about 2,400 Guard members from several states remain stationed in the city. While some states had planned to withdraw their troops soon, it is unclear if the latest extension applies to all or only D.C.’s National Guard. The deployment has reportedly contributed to a meaningful drop in crime rates,but it has also faced criticism from Democrats who view the military presence in a U.S.city as excessive and authoritarian. Legal challenges have been filed by local officials, including D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who accuses the federal government of overreach and questions the accountability and training of out-of-state troops policing city streets. Internal documents suggest plans for a prolonged National Guard presence,possibly extending into the summer of 2026.
Hegseth extends National Guard deployment to DC until February
National Guard troops are expected to remain stationed in Washington, D.C., for three months longer than anticipated, as War Secretary Pete Hegseth is extending their deployment through February 2026.
The development, reported by multiple outlets, marks the second time an extension has been authorized, after President Donald Trump first ordered troops to the District of Columbia in August in an effort to combat crime and improve safety for residents.
In September, the administration issued an extension for troops to remain in the district through November in what it described as a move to ensure soldiers receive full benefits contingent on the length of their mobilization.
There are now just under 2,400 National Guard troops mobilized in Washington, including those from the district, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama.
It is unclear whether the latest extension of troops applies broadly to all states or would only authorize the D.C. National Guard for mobilization through February. Multiple states had announced earlier this month plans to withdraw troops from the capital in the coming weeks, according to the Associated Press. The five states are responsible for around 80% of the 1,300 out-of-state troops deployed to Washington.
The Washington Examiner contacted the Pentagon and National Guard for more details on the matter, but did not receive a response.
Crime across a variety of metrics has plummeted due to the deployment of troops, according to local police and the Trump administration.
However, the rare mobilization of the military in U.S. cities has attracted scrutiny from many Democrats, who argue it is an unnecessary, authoritarian tactic.
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Local officials sued to stop the deployment last month, as District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb accused Trump of exercising “illegal overreach” and arguing that the district should not have “out-of-state military who are not accountable to the residents and untrained in local law enforcement policing its streets.”
Schwalb suggested earlier this month that Trump is planning to have Hegseth extend the deployment of military troops in the capital well into the summer of 2026. In court filings, the attorney general’s office said internal documents show National Guard officials planning for a “long-term persistent presence.”
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