National Guard Deployment in Washington D.C. Continues

Why it matters locally: West Virginia National Guard units have historically been deployed for national security operations, and any extended federal deployment could draw on or impact the availability of these units for state-level emergencies or training.

Washington D.C. has maintained a continuous presence of National Guard troops for one year. This deployment, initially established to support security operations, has since received an extension. The extension continues the troop presence through Inauguration Day in 2029. Projected expenditures for this extended deployment are estimated to total billions of dollars. The photograph accompanying this report, captured by Kent Nishimura, shows members of the National Guard at the Lincoln Memorial. The Washington Monument appears in the distance.