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5h ago

Army Memo Extends National Guard Presence in Washington Through 2026

An Army memo citing mission conditions sets December 31 orders to give troops stability.

FILED - Armed National Guard soldiers from West Virginia patrol the Mall near the Capitol in Washington, as part of President Donald Trump's order to impose federal law enforcement in the nation's capital, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
National Guard members gather near a large portrait of President Donald Trump on the Labor Department headquarters on January 8 in Washington, DC.
National Guard are seen on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
National Guard members gather before the body of Metropolitan Police Department officer Terry Bennett is driven past the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Overview

  • A memo signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll extends the Washington task force from its expected February end date to December 31, 2026.
  • Roughly 2,400 to 2,500 Guard members are assigned, including about 700 from D.C. and troops from 11 states, conducting street patrols and public-service work such as trash collection and landscaping.
  • Officials say the new orders could be amended to a shorter period, with the longer horizon intended to replace repeated short-term renewals.
  • Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders separately approved a 90-day extension for her state’s contingent supporting operations in the capital.
  • The deployment continues under a December D.C. Circuit ruling that allowed it to proceed, as the mission faces scrutiny after on- and off-duty casualties and as some troops request release for school or civilian jobs.