Trump Administration’s National Guard Deployments Questioned by Think Tank

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Trump Administration's National Guard Deployments Questioned by Think Tank

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A report released in July 2026 by the Center for American Progress (CAP) has raised questions about the effectiveness and cost of the Trump administration’s National Guard deployments in American cities. The analysis indicates that these deployments, intended to combat violent crime, could cost American taxpayers more than $1.7 billion by the end of 2026.

According to the CAP report, there is no compelling evidence that the National Guard deployments have reduced homicides, violent crime, or gun violence in cities such as Los Angeles, Memphis, and Washington, D.C. The report suggests that violent crime rates were already on a downward trend in some of these cities prior to the National Guard’s arrival, and that this trend likely would have continued regardless of the federal intervention.

The deployments have been criticized for their high cost, which includes additional pay and benefits for active-duty personnel, as well as lodging, food, and transportation expenses. For example, a deployment of approximately 2,000 National Guard members to Washington D.C. from August to December 2025 cost around $185 million. While some studies, like one from the Niskanen Center in June 2026, found that National Guard presence in Washington D.C. contributed to a 24% decrease in property crimes, particularly in highly visible commercial and tourist areas, it noted no measurable effect on violent crime.

The CAP analysis concludes that the primary goal of these deployments may not have been crime reduction, but rather a “dangerous power grab” that increased unrest and incurred significant costs for taxpayers. Officials in some cities, such as Baltimore, have expressed strong opposition to these federal interventions, arguing that progress on public safety was already being made and that local law enforcement partnerships are more effective.

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