Jan. 17, 2026 — Washington, D.C. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll signed a memo on Wednesday extending the deployment of approximately 2,600 National Guard troops on city streets through the end of 2026 to support President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to restore law and order.
The troops, including about 700 from D.C. and the rest from 11 states such as Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, were initially activated in August under an emergency order. The mission, originally focused on crime-fighting, has expanded to include city beautification tasks like trash removal, mulching, clearing plant waste, roadway maintenance, painting fences, and pruning trees.
“The conditions of the mission” warranted an extension past the end of next month to continue supporting President Donald Trump’s “ongoing efforts to restore law and order.”
The memo, dated Jan. 14, cited ongoing mission requirements for the continuation.
In October, the troops accomplished significant beautification work, clearing 1,150 bags of trash, spreading 1,045 cubic yards of mulch, removing 50 truckloads of plant waste, clearing 7.9 miles of roadway, painting 270 feet of fencing, and pruning 400 trees.
The deployment has not been without incident. Two West Virginia troops were shot the day before Thanksgiving, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom from her injuries.
President Trump holds greater authority over the D.C. National Guard because Washington is a federal district, allowing him direct control, unlike in states where governors command their units. This has enabled the sustained presence amid legal challenges elsewhere.
Trump had considered expanding similar efforts to other cities. In June, he federalized troops for Los Angeles in response to protests over immigration arrests, deploying about 4,000 troops and 700 Marines, but removed them in December following a judicial order.
Plans for Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Minnesota, including a potential invocation of the Insurrection Act, were dropped on Dec. 31 due to legal hurdles.
A federal appellate court upheld a judge’s order returning control of the California National Guard to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The extension ensures the troops, visible on streets including the East Front of the U.S. Capitol, will remain through 2026.
