National Guard use in cities challenged

Congressional Insider -   A half-billion-dollar National Guard mission inside America’s cities is colliding with court limits, Pentagon budget strain, and a base that’s tired of “forever wars” abroad and open borders at home.

CBO estimated Trump-era National Guard deployments to six major cities for immigration-related missions cost about $496 million through the end of 2025, with potential ongoing costs of roughly $93 million per month if continued.

The Guard deployments expanded beyond border support into interior-city operations tied to immigration enforcement and protection of federal personnel, drawing protests and legal scrutiny.

A Supreme Court ruling drove withdrawals from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland in December 2025, underscoring limits on using military forces for domestic law enforcement.

The Pentagon has diverted more than $2 billion from military projects to support DHS and is seeking another $5 billion for 2026 immigration-related support, fueling questions about readiness and transparency.

The Congressional Budget Office reported that National Guard deployments ordered by the Trump administration to Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Portland, and Washington, D.C. cost about $496 million through the end of 2025. CBO also estimated the burn rate could reach roughly $93 million per month if missions continue. That dollar figure matters to voters watching inflation and energy costs, because it puts a hard price tag on interior deployments—not just border security.