The DC National Guard's mission in Washington, D.C. has reached its one-year mark, with nearly 9,700 troops deployed since August 2025. Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard, the D.C. National Guard's interim commanding general, highlighted the mission's successes, including 788 medical assists, 43 reunions of lost children, and 325 administrations of the overdose reversal drug Narcan.
The mission's impact is still being evaluated, with some questioning whether the costs, estimated at $55 million per month, are justified. A new estimate suggests the mission will cost $1.4 billion through its expected conclusion in January 2029.
The Guard is now moving into its next phase, with plans to shift resources to higher-crime areas, including D.C.'s Ward 8 and Trinidad neighborhood. Blanchard stated that the mission's presence has had a positive impact on crime, particularly in areas with high-visibility enforcement.
