The Pentagon is preparing to extend the federal mission of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., through January 20, 2029, spanning the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term, reports Baltimore Chronicle via ABC News. Two U.S. officials confirmed that the plan has been finalized and only awaits the signature of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who is widely expected to approve it given President Trump’s repeated praise of the Guard’s performance in the capital.
Approximately 2,865 National Guard troops are currently stationed in Washington, D.C., drawn primarily from Republican-led states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, alongside local D.C. units. These forces rotate on staggered schedules, with some maintaining nearly continuous deployments since last summer, while others from out-of-state are on shorter assignments. Officials emphasized that the mission has blended law enforcement support with civic duties, providing patrols in downtown areas, Metro stations, and the National Mall, while also contributing to trash collection, landscaping, and graffiti removal.
The initiative, named “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful,” began last August as part of a broader effort by President Trump to deploy guardsmen in cities across the country to assist local authorities. While similar deployments in cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago were curtailed following U.S. Supreme Court rulings that questioned the administration’s justification, the framework in Washington provides the president with broader authority for federal troop assignments. Guardsmen are armed with M17 pistols or M4 rifles and operate under federal orders distinct from civilian law enforcement.
The National Guard’s presence in the District comes amid ongoing deployments abroad, particularly in the Middle East during the conflict with Iran. Earlier this month, three airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing were killed when their KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq. Additionally, incidents in Washington have resulted in casualties among guardsmen on duty: in November, Spc. Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia died from gunshot injuries sustained while patrolling, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe survived a gunshot to the head.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told ABC News, “There are no announcements to make at this time. The Defense Department remains committed to supporting the President’s mission to address the epidemic of crime in our Nation’s capital.” Despite legal scrutiny and public debate over extended military deployments on U.S. soil, the National Guard continues to operate as a visible and multifunctional force in Washington, balancing security and civic responsibilities while managing personnel demands overseas.
Earlier we wrote that IRGC Spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Iran
