Army memo keeps National Guard in Washington through 2026

A mid-January memorandum signed by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll directs that National Guard personnel supporting operations in Washington, D.C., will remain in place through the end of 2026. The memo cites "the conditions of the mission" and the need to support President Donald Trump's "ongoing efforts to restore law and order" in the District, formalizing a deployment that began last summer.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered an extension this week, and Driscoll's memorandum implements that directive, placing roughly 2,600 Guard members in the capital for an extended mission. The force includes about 700 members of the D.C. National Guard and roughly 1,900 troops mobilized from a multistate pool that reporting identifies as including Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, West Virginia and Ohio. Earlier filings and notices in litigation put the figure at "more than 2,000" or over 2,300, reflecting evolving tallies as units rotate.

The deployment, initially ordered by a presidential memorandum on Aug. 11, 2025, was framed as a response to an "epidemic of crime" in the capital. The operational mandate was broadened beyond policing to encompass public-works and "beautification" tasks in high-traffic tourist areas and on the National Mall. Task Force Beautification has reported removing roughly 1,099 to 1,150 bags of trash and spreading about 1,045 cubic yards of mulch; other recorded activities include 50 truckloads of plant waste removed, 7.9 miles of roadway cleared, 270 feet of fencing painted and about 400 trees pruned. Troops deployed to the mission have been authorized to carry firearms, reflecting an expansion of force authorities tied to the president's unique control over the District and the D.C. National Guard.

The prolonged federal presence has provoked sharp legal and political pushback. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to challenge the deployments, arguing in court filings that the size and scope of the federal force raise constitutional and governance concerns and risk an enduring federal incursion into local authority. A federal judge heard arguments in that litigation in recent weeks, and a defense official told reporters the extension is open-ended in practice, to continue "until the mission is considered complete."

The mission has also been marred by violence. Two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot the day before Thanksgiving 2025; Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries. The incident intensified scrutiny of the troops' role and rules of engagement in a densely populated urban environment.

Beyond the immediate legal and civic questions, the extension carries economic consequences for the District and federal budget priorities. The federal government now shoulders the cost of an extended on-the-ground operation in the capital, shifting spending patterns away from locally funded public safety initiatives. The continued uniformed presence will influence visitor perceptions and consumer confidence in 2026; tourism and hospitality are significant revenue drivers for Washington, and an extended security posture could affect foot traffic, conventions and retail in tourist corridors.

The memo sets a precedent for federalized responses to urban crime and public order under presidential authority in the District, raising broader questions about the balance between restoring public safety and preserving local governance. With litigation pending and political pressures mounting from city leaders and residents, the durability of the deployment through 2026 is likely to be decided in the courts and through political negotiation as the year unfolds.