By Hanna Homestead
President Trump mobilized the D.C. National Guard under the guise of restoring security in the nation’s capital — despite D.C.’s crime rate being at a 30-year low. What began as a deployment of 800 D.C. National Guard troops has grown to encompass 2,091 as of this writing, as Republican governors send hundreds more.
Trump hasn’t just complained about alleged crime in the district — he’s placed a target on people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Claiming that we’re “getting rid of the slums,” Trump has called on troops and police to forcibly remove unhoused people from the city.
Federal law prohibits deploying the military on U.S. soil, except under certain extraordinary circumstances. Trump is currently facing legal challenges over his 60-day deployment of troops in Los Angeles earlier this year under equally unfounded claims about violence and risk — and against the wishes of the troops themselves.
Now he’s ordering soldiers into our streets for the fourth time as president to viciously target some of the most vulnerable members of our society — despite abundant evidence that prosecuting homelessness only makes it worse.
The cost of this cruel power grab is borne by taxpayers like you and me.
Previous reporting found that National Guard deployments cost the U.S. government $530 per Guard member, per day. So the price tag of deploying 2,091 troops to D.C. is well over $1 million per day — and the number of troops will likely continue to grow. And with no deadline for the D.C. deployment, those costs could add up for months or even years.
This militarized spending comes at the expense of federal programs — like public housing — that actually do prevent crime and improve health and education outcomes.
Using those figures and other publicly available data, I calculated that the daily cost of operating public housing for all 5,616 people who are unhoused in D.C. on any given night is one-quarter the daily expense of deploying the National Guard. If the Guard remains deployed for three months, it would cost more than operating public housing for the entire unhoused population in D.C. for an entire year.
That’s also true in the states whose GOP governors are voluntarily sending National Guard troops to the capital. Across those six states — Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia — some 30,000 people are unhoused. The daily cost of operating safe shelter for all 30,000 would be less than one day of the D.C. occupation.
In fact, it’s true in almost every state, I learned.
The daily expense of deploying troops to D.C. is more than four times the daily cost of operating public housing for Georgia’s unhoused population, five times for Nevada’s unhoused population, and 15 times for all unhoused people in Wisconsin.
If you want numbers for your own city, county, state, or congressional district, you can use the National Priorities Project’s trade off calculator at NationalPriorities.org to learn more about what taxpayers in your area are paying towards militarism — and the services we could be enjoying instead.
Trump’s decision to hyper-militarize our streets is transpiring on the heels of the MAGA budget bill, which cuts food and medical services for millions across the country to further enrich billionaires and war profiteers.
Deploying troops in our nation’s capital, rather than investing in what makes communities safe and prosperous, is yet another attempt to scapegoat struggling people — especially communities of color — to advance a draconian agenda in service of billionaires, war profiteers, and white supremacy.
Government spending on straightforward solutions that help poor and working-class people faces constant political backlash. But providing affordable housing to end homelessness in D.C. would be far cheaper than deploying troops — and would do far more to improve the city’s security.
Hanna Homestead is a federal budget researcher with the National Priorities Project of the Institute for Policy Studies. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
S meter says
So putting a price on safety is a waste of money? A typical leftist opinion. Money over safety? Maybe crime stats are possibly down but, it’s ok to accept a certain threshold of crime? Everybody has a right to a opinion but, this point of view is totally ridiculous!
Atwp says
What else is new with this poor excuse of a leader. Did Hitler start taking over Germany this way?
Dennis C Rathsam says
All I can say is THANK YOU, president TRUMP! Now move on to Chicago, Baltimore, Portland, N.Y., And any other big city that specializes in murder, crime, car jacking, drugs, & whatever else they can find. We baby boomers, never had such problems, we were all taught respect, & right from wrong. Probably because we were raised by AMERICA,S GREATEST GENERATION! My thanks to Mom & Pop, & the rest of the Patriots who saved the USA! Rest in peace, & God bless you all.
Tired of it says
What is totally ridiculous and dangerous for democracy is taking control of a city when his own FBI says crime is down. If you don’t see a pattern here, get ready for a dictatorship. Sending marines to LA was a direct violation of our
constitution. He will continue to target “blue” states, with troops in place he can quell any rebellion when he runs for a third term.
Ken Monte says
I could not agree more.
I say let the Feds disband their current temporary action and take that One Million +/-, apply it to the Health Care cost of those citizens that are Stabbed, Shot or Murdered as a result of the withdrawal. Allow D C to wallow in their own demise.
Sherry says
We need to start “housing” the “homeless” and “LONG TERM treating” the drug addicted! Being homeless is not “YET” a crime!
Laurel says
Atwp: Yes. They were call the “Brown shirts.” This is nothing more than a political stunt to show us all that Trump can overrun and override us at any time. Ultimate power.
As for safety, any psycho can put on a uniform, with no badge, no id, and wear a mask, and whisk someone off the street. I do not see how that is “safe.” Quite the contrary.
This behavior appeals to those grown adults who want a daddy. Very frequently, you’ll hear about Trump being called “my daddy” or “my papa.” It appeals to those who prefer an Aryan, male style of population. Someone who wants the government to think for them, and for whom conformity is extremely important.
Pogo says
@Hanna Homestead
You are 100% correct; the following were verities for the majority of my own lifetime — and all previous generations of our country:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
— Benjamin Franklin (one of the Founding Fathers of the world’s best revolt against tyranny)
“A republic, if you can keep it.”
— Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel’s question: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
Sadly, it was sold at a rummage sale in 2016; held by the oligarchy that overthrew it, and enslaved us, while we stared at screens the oligarchs owned and focused to their own benefit alone. I will miss it.
What Else Is New says
Bless your heart, S Meter. Take a look at facts. I have a family member who lives in DC. The Nazi take over of DC is merely for show. My family member told of the armed troops mingling only around tourist sites. It’s a Miller/Trump’s show costing millions. A 30-year low in DC crime is telling. Does the Miller/Trump show seem to focus on cities with black mayors.?
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
Interesting how putting a price on policing is somehow leftist while putting a price on healthcare or education is exactly how the free market should operate as per “conservatives.” Interesting but unsurprising.
mothersworry says
Why doesn’t he put the troops in the schools? Maybe slowdown the school shootings.
M.T. Pockets says
I look forward to nature taking its course with the orange laughingstock, who is suffering from telomere loss.
SOON hopefully…
Ed P says
Based on budget information, the DC Metropolitan Police Department cost for 2025 is approximately 1.65 million dollars per day. 40% of DC’s budget is federal money.
What the article failed to report is the additional 1 million dollar per day has successfully reduced crime. Even Mayor Muriel Bowser admitted the same yesterday.
Will the left ever triangulate, pivot, and start working on behalf of all Americans?
It’s not about vilifying the right, but rather helping America. If results are a fair barometer, we should worry about “wasted” salaries on the Democratic side of the isle.
I believe the taxpayers ROI is unacceptable. Politicians should focus on working for all Americans.
Laurel says
Oh! Please! Dennis does NOT speak for the baby boomers! No! No! No!
No!
Kennan says
Thank you, Samuel!
Let’s be blunt and real. This shit is crazy. One of those cities is my city Washington DC. With a crime rate at a 30 year low.
Three top states crime wise right now are Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. All red states. No National Guard deployment there? Of course not. Not necessary. LA, DC, Chicago is next and then New York. This is nothing less than a soft Civil War. LA DC Chicago are districts and states that Trump lost. Nobody uses politics more than Trump. Trump hates this country and despises people. Trump loves him some Trump. That simple.
Some of the comments I hear from some of you guys that live in an alternate universe without eyes or hear, makes me think that if Trump asked to have sex with your daughters, and you would get some special prize or a patriot award? I believe some of you would do it. That’s how fucking stupid some of you are.
Sherry says
Absolutely correct Laurel! dennis only speaks for brainwashed Maga cult members like himself!