The deployment of National Guard troops in several major U.S. cities for immigration enforcement has incurred costs nearing $500 million, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The report details expenses accumulated since June as the Trump administration dispatched troops to cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Portland, and Washington, D.C.. The total cost is projected to be approximately $496 million through the end of the year.
The CBO report emphasizes that future costs related to these deployments are highly uncertain. They note that the “scale, length and location” of deployments are challenging to predict accurately. Additionally, legal challenges have hindered deployments to some cities, and fluctuations in administration policy further complicate projections. Continuing the current level of deployments into 2025 could result in expenses of around $93 million per month. For 2026, deploying 1,000 troops to a U.S. city could cost between $18 million and $21 million monthly, depending on local cost of living.
President Donald Trump initiated these deployments in June to safeguard federal personnel and property amid protests that arose over immigration enforcement operations. In August, the National Guard was sent to Washington, D.C., to support Trump’s efforts to address rising crime in the capital. In October, he federalized 300 Illinois National Guardsmen despite objections from Governor JB Pritzker, and also deployed 200 Texas National Guard members to Chicago.
By December, the administration withdrew troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that the administration had failed to establish a valid legal basis for the military’s role in enforcing federal laws in Illinois.
The CBO report was requested by Senator Jeff Merkley, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. Merkley stated that the American people deserve transparency regarding the substantial taxpayer funds spent on these deployments, describing it as “waste” stemming from what he termed Trump’s “reckless and haphazard” approach to National Guard operations across the country.
The findings from the CBO offer a detailed financial perspective on a contentious issue that has drawn significant public and political attention. As debates continue regarding immigration enforcement and public safety, the financial implications of military involvement in domestic law enforcement remain a critical point of discussion.
