Nearly 3,000 Guard Troops Remain in D.C. as Louisiana Sends More

September 30, 2026

The National Guard presence in Washington D.C. has decreased from over 5,100 troops in July to approximately 2,900 by Tuesday, though new Louisiana soldiers continue to arrive as the Pentagon plans to maintain operations until January 2029. President Trump ordered the deployment in August 2025 following a declared crime emergency, but D.C. officials and parents are objecting to armed military personnel appearing near schools and residential neighborhoods. The mission has cost hundreds of millions of dollars, with projections showing an additional $1.

Who is affected

D.C. students, parents, teachers, and school staff (particularly at Wheatley Education Campus)
D.C. residents in neighborhoods where troops are stationed
National Guard members from 27 states and two territories (including newly deployed Louisiana soldiers from the 139th Regional Support Group, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 225th Engineer Brigade, and 61st Troop Command)
D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other law enforcement agencies
D.C. National Guard and Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard
Taxpayers funding the operation
ACLU and ACLU-D.C., along with Executive Director Monica Hopkins
People who received emergency assistance (788 medical emergencies, 325 Narcan administrations, 43 lost children reunited, etc.)

What action is being taken

More than 60 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are arriving in Washington
11 states are withdrawing their contingents from the capital
Guard members are deployed at Metro stations, federal buildings, parks, and neighborhood streets
Louisiana's Task Force Pelican is supporting the D.C. National Guard, MPD, and other law enforcement agencies with missions to reduce crime, maintain order, and protect federal property
D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto is asking federal officials to keep military personnel away from schools
The deployment is being challenged in federal court
A $292 million housing contract is providing up to 2,000 apartment units for Guard members (moving troops from hotels to apartments)

Why it matters

This matters because it represents an unprecedented, long-term militarization of the nation's capital in peacetime, raising fundamental questions about civil-military relations and local governance. The deployment costs taxpayers over $1.4 billion through 2029, yet research shows minimal impact on violent crime, which was already declining before troops arrived. The presence of armed military personnel near schools and residential areas creates fear among families and students, potentially transforming educational environments meant to be welcoming and safe. D.C.'s unique status denies locally elected officials control over their own National Guard, highlighting the District's lack of autonomy compared to states. The operation risks normalizing military presence in civilian spaces, a concern raised by civil liberties organizations who argue no genuine emergency exists to justify this continued deployment.

What's next

The Pentagon is preparing to keep the operation running through January 2029
Pentagon estimates project needing approximately $596.9 million in fiscal 2027, $625.8 million in fiscal 2028, and $198.3 million through the final months of Trump's term
Nearly 9,700 Guard members are expected to rotate through the capital during the mission's duration
The federal court challenge to the deployment is ongoing

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer