Trump Deploys National Guard to Major U.S. Cities

Throughout 2025, Donald Trump repeatedly deployed National Guard troops to several U.S. cities, targeting both crime reduction and immigration enforcement. The initiative began in June in Los Angeles, where the president federalized the guard over a governor's objections to secure an immigration court. Similar deployments followed in Washington, D.C., Memphis, and the Chicago area, though the Supreme Court of the United States eventually blocked federalization efforts in Illinois.

In late December 2025, the administration authorized 350 Louisiana National Guard members to secure New Orleans for New Year's celebrations, the Sugar Bowl, and Mardi Gras. This followed a September request from Governor Jeff Landry for 1,000 federally funded members. This deployment coincided with Operation Catahoula Crunch, a Department of Homeland Security immigration initiative that arrested approximately 370 undocumented immigrants with violent crime records.

The operations have cost an estimated $340 million and carried significant risks, including a November incident where two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House, killing one. While homicides dropped in Washington, D.C., the efficacy of the deployments remains debated. Some local officials cited terror threats as justification for the presence, while others noted a distrust among residents regarding the increased policing.