Estimates suggest the current deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. is costing at least
$1 million per day. Based on the number of days the deployment has been in effect as of late August 2025, the total cost has reached tens of millions of dollars. The exact total cost is not formally reported by the Pentagon at this time.
Key cost details and factors:
- Daily cost: Based on analysis by the National Priorities Project, the deployment of over 2,000 National Guard members is estimated to cost more than $1 million per day. This estimate uses a benchmark of $530 per Guard member per day from a prior deployment.
- Total number of troops: As of late August 2025, over 2,200 National Guard troops have been deployed to D.C.. This includes more than 900 from the D.C. National Guard and about 1,300 sent from six Republican-led states.
- Duration of deployment: The troop deployment was initiated in mid-August 2025 by President Trump under an executive order. The duration is uncertain, but a previous daily cost estimate was based on a 30-day assumption.
- Comparison to other costs: The daily cost of the troop deployment is significantly higher than alternative community programs. For instance, the daily expense of the D.C. occupation is over four times greater than the estimated daily cost to provide public housing for the city's entire unhoused population.
- Other expenses: The total cost could be higher than daily troop-related expenses. In the past, deployments have included funding for transportation, salaries, housing, benefits, and operational materials
