National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump’s anti-crime initiative are expected to have their military orders extended through December to ensure continuity of benefits for service members, according to a senior official. The extension, which has not been finalized, aims to provide essential benefits like housing allowances and healthcare that typically require orders longer than 30 days.
Approximately 2,290 troops are currently assigned to the mission, with 1,340 coming from supporting states, and their orders are also anticipated to be extended to maintain consistency. Joint Task Force – DC has acknowledged existing concerns regarding pay and benefits, stating that most service members are mobilized on orders extending beyond 30 days to qualify for full benefits.
The mission, conducted in partnership with local law enforcement, has reportedly resulted in significant crime reductions, including a 37% decrease in carjackings, a 50% drop in robberies, and a 23% decrease in violent crime. Despite these claims, the deployment has faced criticism for being unnecessary, with troops performing tasks like cleaning parks and picking up trash.
As of Tuesday, guardsmen had cleaned over 3.2 miles of roadways, collected more than 677 bags of trash, and disposed of five truckloads of plant waste. The financial cost is substantial, estimated at around $1 million per day when accounting for pay, benefits, housing, travel, and other logistical needs, though the official price tag is still being calculated.
This development occurs alongside the Trump administration’s consideration of a major immigration enforcement operation in Chicago that could involve National Guard troops. President Trump mentioned sending troops to Chicago but did not specify a timeline, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the potential move as an “invasion.”
Troops in D.C. are on Title 32 orders, reporting to the governor or Secretary of the Army, and are not subject to the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts law enforcement activities. This differs from Title 10 orders, such as those used in a recent Los Angeles deployment where a federal judge ruled violations of the act occurred.
