Hundreds of National Guard troops will continue their mission in Washington D.C. through the end of 2026, a significant extension of their presence in the nation’s capital. The extended deployment, confirmed by officials familiar with the matter, was initially set to expire in February but has now been formalized.
The current orders for the task force in Washington were slated to conclude in February, following a previous extension in October. The newly issued orders extend the mission through December 31, 2026, though they retain the possibility of amendment for an earlier conclusion. As of Thursday morning, the deployment comprised 2,429 troops, with over 1,700 originating from states beyond the D.C. National Guard.
Conversations about a more permanent National Guard presence in D.C. have been ongoing, particularly in anticipation of the America 250th anniversary celebration in 2026, a priority for the White House. This long-term deployment is being compared to the New York National Guard’s anti-terrorism task force, established after the September 11th attacks. The extension is intended to offer greater stability for the troops, whose assignments have previously been extended in shorter increments, impacting their families.
The extension follows tragic incidents involving National Guard members in D.C. In late 2025, two West Virginia National Guard troops were shot near the White House, resulting in the death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critical injury to Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Another guardsman, Staff Sgt. Jacob Hill from Alabama, died of an off-duty medical emergency. While some troops express a strong sense of duty, others have voiced frustration or boredom with the mission. Military leadership is reportedly working with troops requesting to leave the mission for personal reasons, such as education or civilian employment.
Beyond security patrols, the National Guard’s mission in D.C. has encompassed various public service projects. These have included trash collection, laying mulch, clearing roadways, painting fences, and pruning trees. The troops are operating under the authority of President Donald Trump, who has asserted control over the D.C. National Guard, allowing him to bypass legal challenges faced in other states where he sought to deploy troops..