President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of National Guard troops from several key cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, in the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision that questioned the extent of his authority to deploy troops domestically. The action marks a significant change in federal presence in these metropolitan areas.
US Northern Command confirmed the return of the troops, which had been on a federal protective mission to safeguard federal buildings and support federal agents. At its height, this operation saw around 5,000 members in Los Angeles, 500 in Chicago, and 200 in Portland. Notably, the drawdown took place without a formal public announcement by either the Pentagon or the White House.
The President had federalized the troops under Title 10 authority, which is reserved for non-law-enforcement purposes. In this capacity, the troops were not engaged in traditional policing activities. It's important to note that additional deployments under separate authorities remain active in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Memphis, with an expected 2,500 troops continuing their mission in the nation’s capital through the end of the year, as reported by The Washington Post.
The Supreme Court's decision in December marked a temporary judicial rebuke to the administration's use of National Guard troops in Chicago. The justices stipulated that federalized Guard deployments were only permissible under "exceptional" circumstances, potentially curtailing the President's executive power for future domestic troop surges. This legal challenge, coupled with the Congressional Budget Office's projection of the substantial costs associated with these deployments—approximately $496 million in 2025 alone—has seemingly influenced the administration's strategy.
Despite the withdrawal, President Trump has expressed support for the National Guard's role, citing a decrease in crime in Washington, DC, since their deployment in August 2025. Local police data appear to corroborate this claim, with several crime categories showing a decline during the federal presence. Beyond security, the troops in DC have also contributed to community services like snow removal and trash cleanup.
The cost of maintaining troops in US cities has been significant, with an estimated $93 million monthly burn rate and a single 1,000-troop deployment costing at least $18 million per month. The quiet withdrawal from the three major cities reflects a recalibration of the administration's approach to urban deployments in light of both financial and legal pressures.
The future of federalized National Guard deployments in urban areas remains uncertain, particularly as the Supreme Court's ruling may impact forthcoming decisions on domestic military involvement. The Trump administration's recent move, as reported by journalist Tara Copp on Twitter, has ended the contentious surge of forces into Democrat-led states after facing judicial roadblocks, signaling a potential shift in the administration's domestic security policies.
