US National Guard deployment in Washington, DC extended through February 2026: Report

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - US National Guard troops in Washington, DC will remain deployed in the nation’s capital at least through February 2026, CNN reported Wednesday, citing sources "familiar with the guard’s orders."

The troops’ deployment orders, which were set to expire at the end of November, were reportedly extended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The deployment is currently at the center of a legal dispute between the Trump administration and DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who has asked a judge to order the withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 troops stationed on its streets.

US President Donald Trump deployed National Guard units to Washington in August, purportedly to address crime in the city, with similar deployments ordered to Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago, though several have faced legal challenges.