National Guard Deployment In Washington DC Extended Through November 30, Confirms Memo

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 05:05 IST

A memorandum issued by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed the extended mission.

The extended deployment plan applies to approximately 950 members of the D.C. National Guard (Image: Reuters)

The National Guard will remain active in Washington, D.C. until at least November 30, as the Army moves to extend deployment orders, two US officials told ABC News on Thursday. The extension comes amid legal and political scrutiny.

On Thursday, the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to deploy National Guard troops in the capital. The White House has pushed back on the lawsuit, asserting that the deployment is fully within the president’s constitutional powers.

While the Army plans to extend the mission, officials noted that President Trump ultimately holds the authority to shorten or extend the deployment. As of now, the timeline remains open-ended. “He could still cut the mission shorter than November 30 if desired, or extend the deployment past that date," one of the officials said.

The extended deployment plan applies to approximately 950 members of the D.C. National Guard. This group is separate from the roughly 1,300 troops sent from other states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, and West Virginia, who remain under the control of their respective governors. Many of those out-of-state troops are under orders to stay in D.C. through the end of December, according to one official.

A memorandum issued by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed the extended mission. The memo states the deployment will continue “to support the President’s ongoing efforts to restore law and order in the District of Columbia."

Originally, the 30-day deployment was scheduled to end on September 10.

Earlier this week, CNN reported that extending the Guard’s orders would ensure troops qualify for critical federal military benefits such as housing allowances and health care, benefits only available for deployments exceeding 30 days.

President Trump has defended the presence of National Guard troops in Washington, claiming the move has helped reduce crime. Despite facing resistance from Democrat-led cities, he has indicated plans to deploy similar forces in other urban centers like Chicago and Baltimore, citing concerns over rising criminal activity.

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