National Guard domestic deployments could cost more than $1 billion in 2026
Deprecated: str_getcsv(): the $escape parameter must be provided as its default value will change in /var/www/html/breaking-news/wp-content/plugins/wp-auto-affiliate-links/aal_engine.php on line 361
A Congressional Budget Office estimate released Wednesday says continued domestic National Guard deployments at 2025 levels would cost roughly $93 million per month — more than $1.1 billion over a full year in 2026. The CBO calculated the federal cost for 2025 at about $496 million (excluding a late-year New Orleans mission) and estimates that deploying about 1,000 Guard members to a U.S. city runs $18–21 million per month, covering pay, benefits, healthcare, lodging, food, and transportation. the review was prompted by a request from Sen. Jeff Merkley and other senators. Last year, President Donald Trump sent Guard troops or active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Memphis, Portland, Chicago, and New Orleans to respond to protests, crime, and protect federal sites — actions that drew pushback from democrats and many local officials.Some missions (Portland, Los Angeles, chicago) have completed demobilization; others remain active or extended (memphis unclear, New Orleans through Feb. 2026, D.C. extended), and the Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty troops on standby for a potential Minnesota deployment.
National Guard domestic deployments could cost more than $1 billion in 2026
Domestic National Guard deployments could cost the federal government more than $1 billion in 2026 if they continue at the same rate they did last year, according to a new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office released on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops or active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, California; Washington, D.C.; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; Chicago, Illinois; and New Orleans, Louisiana last year, though that list could expand further this year.
Based on how the CBO calculated the 2025 expenses, that framework suggests it would cost the U.S. roughly $93 million per month if the deployments continued in 2026 at the size they were last year. Based on the estimation, it would exceed $1.1 billion over the course of a full year.
The CBO projects it cost the federal government $496 million for all but the New Orleans deployment in 2025, which occurred at the very end of the year and was thus excluded from their tally. So, the total for the whole year is higher when factoring in that last deployment.
The report also notes more generally that deploying about 1,000 U.S. National Guard troops to a U.S. city this year would cost between $18 million and $21 million per month. The CBO assessment factored in the costs incurred for military pay, benefits, and healthcare, as well as for lodging, food, and transportation for the deployments.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a group of roughly a dozen senators who asked the budget office in October to conduct an independent review into deployment costs, which prompted the review.
President Donald Trump has used these deployments as ways to suppress protests, stop crime, and protect federal buildings and personnel despite significant pushback from Democrats and many local officials.
PENTAGON ORDERS 1,500 ACTIVE-DUTY TROOPS TO PREPARE FOR MINNESOTA DEPLOYMENT
As of last week, the National Guard troops that were deployed for these missions under Title 10 in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago have completed demobilizing activities, according to U.S. Northern Command, while the mission in Memphis doesn’t have a clear end date, the New Orleans deployment will go through the month of February 2026, and the Washington, D.C., mission was recently extended through 2026.
The Pentagon has also ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty troops to remain on standby for a possible deployment to Minnesota, where protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are prevalent after two separate law enforcement officer shootings killed two civilian protesters.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
