National Guard domestic deployments could cost more than $1 billion in 2026

Based on how the CBO calculated the 2025 expenses, that framework suggests it would cost the U.S. roughly $93 million per month if the deployments continued in 2026 at the size they were last year. Based on the estimation, it would exceed $1.1 billion over the course of a full year.

The CBO projects it cost the federal government $496 million for all but the New Orleans deployment in 2025, which occurred at the very end of the year and was thus excluded from their tally. So, the total for the whole year is higher when factoring in that last deployment.

The report also notes more generally that deploying about 1,000 U.S. National Guard troops to a U.S. city this year would cost between $18 million and $21 million per month. The CBO assessment factored in the costs incurred for military pay, benefits, and healthcare, as well as for lodging, food, and transportation for the deployments.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a group of roughly a dozen senators who asked the budget office in October to conduct an independent review into deployment costs, which prompted the review.

President Donald Trump has used these deployments as ways to suppress protests, stop crime, and protect federal buildings and personnel despite significant pushback from Democrats and many local officials.

PENTAGON ORDERS 1,500 ACTIVE-DUTY TROOPS TO PREPARE FOR MINNESOTA DEPLOYMENT

As of last week, the National Guard troops that were deployed for these missions under Title 10 in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago have completed demobilizing activities, according to U.S. Northern Command, while the mission in Memphis doesn’t have a clear end date, the New Orleans deployment will go through the month of February 2026, and the Washington, D.C., mission was recently extended through 2026.

The Pentagon has also ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty troops to remain on standby for a possible deployment to Minnesota, where protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are prevalent after two separate law enforcement officer shootings killed two civilian protesters.