President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard and military forces to several major U.S. cities has drawn new scrutiny after a federal budget watchdog revealed the massive cost to taxpayers.
According to a report released Wednesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), troop deployments ordered by the Trump administration in 2025 cost nearly $500 million, with expenses expected to continue climbing this year.
The deployments were launched in response to rising crime and unrest in a number of Democrat-run cities, including Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. While court challenges blocked similar actions in certain jurisdictions, the operations that moved forward have already generated substantial federal spending.
In a formal response to a request from a senior Democratic lawmaker, CBO Director Phillip Swagel estimated that the deployments totaled approximately $496 million through the end of December 2025. He noted that maintaining the current troop presence could add tens of millions of dollars per month moving forward.
The most expensive operation has been in Washington, D.C., where more than 2,600 National Guard personnel remain on duty. That deployment alone has cost an estimated $223 million.
Los Angeles followed closely behind, costing roughly $193 million, driven by a higher troop surge over a shorter time frame.
Looking ahead, the CBO cautioned that future costs remain uncertain. Swagel explained that it is difficult to accurately predict expenses because deployments vary widely depending on location, duration, and troop levels.
If current missions continue, monthly costs could range from about $6 million for a smaller force of 350 personnel in New Orleans, to $28 million for 1,500 troops in Memphis, and as much as $55 million per month for ongoing operations in Washington, D.C.
The report comes as President Trump continues to pursue an aggressive national security agenda during his second term in office. In addition to domestic deployments, his administration has authorized military action overseas, including air operations against Huthi rebels in Yemen and strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
Closer to home, U.S. forces have also stepped up enforcement efforts in the Western Hemisphere, intercepting suspected drug-smuggling vessels off South America and carrying out a high-profile operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s leader and his wife.
The CBO’s findings are expected to reignite debate in Washington over the cost of federal intervention in local crime crises — and whether the financial burden is justified by public safety gains.