The Pentagon is planning to maintain a federal National Guard mission in Washington, D.C., through January 20, 2029, the end of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The plan, finalized late last year, awaits final approval from War Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to ABC News. Hegseth is widely expected to approve the extension.
When asked for comment, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated there were “no announcements to make at this time,” while adding that the Defense Department remains “committed to supporting the President’s mission to address the epidemic of crime in our Nation’s capital.”
The mission, formally known as the “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” or “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission,” began in August 2025. It involves National Guard personnel supporting the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and federal partners through community safety patrols, traffic control, monument security, protection of federal facilities, and area beautification efforts such as trash collection, landscaping, and graffiti removal.
Troops have maintained a visible presence in areas including Metro rail stations, downtown D.C., and the National Mall throughout the duration of the mission.
“The D.C. National Guard remains focused on its mission assisting the Metropolitan Police Department and federal partners with monument security, community safety patrols, and the protection of federal facilities. Our Soldiers continue to provide traffic control and area beautification to safeguard District residents and visitors,” a Joint Task Force D.C. spokesperson said of the mission.
🚨 GREAT NEWS: It has just been announced that the National Guard will remain stationed in Washington D.C. until INAUGURATION DAY 2029, at a minimum
Bless these patriots keeping our capital safe 🇺🇸
5,150 troops are ACTIVELY protecting DC, with a 24% plummet in crime since… pic.twitter.com/rfbY3jGwA0
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 11, 2026
The spokesperson added that the Defense Department is authorized to mobilize additional forces as needed in coordination with state governors.
Troop numbers have varied in reports. ABC News cited approximately 2,865 personnel in March 2026, drawn primarily from Republican-led states such as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, along with D.C. National Guard units, with rotations on staggered timelines.
Other accounts have referenced figures around 2,600 or exceeding 5,000 in later periods. Some personnel have maintained near-continuous presence since the mission’s launch, while others cycle through shorter deployments.
President Trump initially deployed approximately 800 members of the D.C. National Guard in August 2025 as part of efforts to address crime in the capital. The mission was later extended through the end of 2026.
D.C. Metropolitan Police data for 2026 year-to-date as of early July showed overall crime down 21 percent, property crime down 23 percent, and motor vehicle thefts down substantially compared to the prior year. Specific comparisons included reductions in categories such as robbery.
