Troop Deployments in US Cities Projected to Cost Americans Nearly $500 Million in 2025, According to CBO Report
CBO Reports $496 Million Cost for Trump Administration Troop Deployments
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a report detailing the financial impact of troop deployments carried out by the Trump administration in 2025, revealing a total expenditure of approximately $496 million. The report highlights the costs associated with deploying National Guard and active-duty Marine personnel to several major U.S. cities.
In a detailed analysis, the CBO categorized expenses into three primary areas: activating and compensating National Guard personnel, operational and logistical costs associated with the deployments, and additional costs incurred from utilizing military forces.
President Donald Trump defended the deployment strategy as a necessary measure to reduce crime and support local law enforcement. The CBO’s findings came in response to an inquiry from Senator Jeff Merkley, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee.
The report notes that from June 2025 onward, National Guard troops and active-duty Marine Corps personnel were deployed to cities including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans, and Portland, Oregon. During this period of heightened unrest related to immigration protests, the estimated monthly cost for military presence in Chicago, Memphis, Portland, and Los Angeles is projected to be around $93 million. The December 2025 deployment to New Orleans is not included in these calculations.
Additionally, the CBO estimates that future deployments in 2026 could cost between $18 million and $21 million per month for 1,000 National Guard personnel, depending on local cost of living. Following these deployments, approximately 200 National Guard personnel have remained stationed in Texas after their exit from Chicago.
According to a memo obtained by the Associated Press, plans indicate that National Guard presence in Washington, D.C. is expected to endure throughout the year.
