Deploying the National Guard into DC costs $1.8 million per day
The National Guard, which President Donald Trump deploys in Washington, DC, is projected to spend $2 million on taxpayers. That amounts to over $1.8 million a day.
WASHINGTON – City leaders pushed back against Republicans’ claims that the deployment of thousands of National Guard forces in the country’s capital has reduced crime rates in the fiery exchange at a Sept. 18 Congressional hearing.
“I think the DC National Guard is an invaluable and great asset for the city, which is a bit different from thousands of security forces stationed in the city when they are not trained in law enforcement,” Washington City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told the House Supervisory Committee.
“My understanding is that a lot of them seem bored with what they’re doing,” he added.
Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Scott Perry has pushed Washington mayor Muriel Bowser to say that President Donald Trump ordered the takeover in mid-August, and that the National Guard’s presence has been the result of the National Guard’s presence. Police statistics show that as of September 18th, crime in the city had fallen by 9%, while violent crime had fallen by 28% from last year.
“Do you agree that crime has diminished dramatically since they were there?” Perry asked.
Bowser said the decline in crime came from a surge in FBI and drug enforcement agents in Washington, not from the deployment of the National Guard.
“So you’re saying the guards didn’t affect DC?” Perry shot back. “You can’t quantify it, so you can’t make a point.”
Another lawmaker spoke from behind Perry: “But I don’t think the guards have arrested him,” Perry glares back at them, but did not reply.
The Trump administration claims that more than 2,300 troops in Washington (960 from the DC National Guard and 1,300 from Republican-led states) have blocked crime.
Since deployment began in mid-August, National Guard forces have been seen almost exclusively in relatively low crime areas such as downtown metro stations and the National Mall. Many people are tasked with “beautifying” things, such as picking up trash and caring for the park. According to internal budget information seen by USA Today, the deployment of the DC National Guard is projected to cost around $200 million.
During the hearing, Illinois Democratic MP Raja Krishmourati displayed photos from a USA Today report of soldiers equipped with leaf blowers as the army shoveled mulch downtown MacPherson Square.
“This is not the reason why taxpayers fund the National Guard,” Krishnamoulti said.
