Federal troop deployments to US cities cost taxpayers $496M and counting
January 28, 2026
The Trump administration’s deployment of federal troops to six U.S. cities has cost taxpayers about $496 million through December. The Congressional Budget Office released this estimate after a request from Sen. Jeff Merkley. The deployments include National Guard and active-duty Marines in cities like Chicago, Memphis, and Portland. The CBO estimates ongoing deployments could cost around $93 million monthly. Merkley criticized the spending as reckless. The CBO provides impartial analysis to support the budget process. National Guard troops are expected to remain deployed in Washington through 2026.