National Guard units will remain stationed in Washington, D.C., until the conclusion of 2026, as documented in a memorandum signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The memo, dated midweek, highlighted the necessity of prolonging the mission based on the prevailing operational requirements and the continued directive to back President Donald Trump's efforts to enforce law and order within the city.
Earlier this month, President Trump announced a halt to plans aimed at deploying National Guard forces to cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. These deployments had faced legal challenges, complicating their implementation. Additionally, the President eased his stance on invoking the Insurrection Act, which he had threatened to apply to manage protests in Minnesota just days prior.
Within Washington, the National Guard's responsibilities have included regular patrolling and maintaining public cleanliness by picking up trash, amidst assertions by President Trump that criminal activity in the city had diminished significantly.
Tragically, the deployment witnessed the shooting of two National Guard service members from West Virginia shortly before Thanksgiving. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, succumbed to her injuries sustained during the incident.
The operational force comprises approximately 2,400 troops, with around 700 troops hailing from Washington, D.C., and the remainder drawn from eleven states governed by Republicans, including Indiana, South Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma.