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Street closure patrolled by National Guard Troops in parked vehicle along Connecticut Avenue and L Street, NW, Washington DC on Thursday afternoon, 14 January 2021 by by Elvert Barnes Photography
NATIONAL GUARD

Elvert Barnes Thursday afternoon, 14 January 2021 Presidential Inauguration Preparation
Photo: Elvert Barnes | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons

National Guard Presence In Washington Shrinks To About 2,900 Troops

The National Guard presence in Washington fell to about 2,900 troops, with 2,921 now deployed on the city's streets.[1]

That is down from 5,148 Guardsmen stationed around the capital on July 10.[1] The deployment drew forces from 27 states and two territories, and 11 states later withdrew their contingents.[1] In July 2026, the administration signed a $292 million contract to provide up to 2,000 housing units for Guard troops in Washington.[1]

President Trump first deployed Guard troops on August 11, 2025, after declaring a crime emergency in Washington despite declining crime rates. A federal appeals court in December 2025 upheld his authority to station Guard personnel in Washington because the capital is a federal district.

  1. New York Times
National Security Federal Government & Politics
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📌 Key Facts

  • As of September 29, 2026, 2,921 National Guard troops are deployed on Washington, D.C. streets, down from 5,148 on July 10, 2026.
  • President Trump first deployed Guard troops on August 11, 2025, after declaring a crime emergency in Washington despite declining crime rates.
  • The deployment has drawn forces from 27 states and two territories, with 11 states later withdrawing their contingents.
  • In July 2026, the Trump administration signed a $292 million contract to provide up to 2,000 housing units for Guard troops in Washington.
  • A federal appeals court in December 2025 upheld Trump's authority to deploy Guard personnel in Washington due to its status as a federal district.

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September 29, 2026