CBO Says President Donald Trump's National Guard Deployments Cost $496 Million in 2025

The Congressional Budget Office estimated in a letter that National Guard and active-duty Marine deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, Memphis, Portland, Chicago and New Orleans cost about $496 million through Dec. 2025 and would cost about $93 million per month if continued.

The estimate follows President Donald Trump's deployments beginning in June that he said were needed to curb crime and protect federal sites, a strategy that has prompted lawsuits and pushback from local officials, court records and statements show.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who led the Oct. 27 request for the CBO review, said the American people deserve to know the costs and called the deployments 'reckless,' while a White House representative did not provide an immediate comment, according to senator statements and CBO correspondence.

The CBO reported the Washington deployment accounted for $223 million and Los Angeles $193 million in 2025 and estimated adding 1,000 Guard personnel would cost about $18 million to $21 million per month, CBO figures show.

The CBO projected that maintaining 2025 deployment levels would cost about $1.1 billion in 2026 and noted cost estimates are 'highly uncertain' as court rulings, demobilizations and possible new activations could change the fiscal outlook.