US President Donald Trump's deployment of active-duty troops and National Guard members to occupy six Democratic-led cities has already cost taxpayers $500 million, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office.
The deployments are aimed at quelling dissent, assisting anti-immigration efforts, protecting federal buildings and personnel, or addressing crime. Despite setbacks in federal courts and the Supreme Court's refusal to allow a military occupation of Chicago, Trump withdrew forces from California, Oregon, and Illinois earlier this month. Troops remain deployed in Washington D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans, with 200 members of the Texas National Guard on standby for deployment.
The cost of these deployments is projected to exceed $660 million this year if they continue until December. The most expensive deployment is in Washington D.C., which is expected to cost over $660 million by the end of the year alone.
Critics have accused Trump's actions as an attempt to intimidate and control minority communities, with some calling it a form of authoritarianism. "Our military budget is not a slush fund for the President to carry out his political stunts," said Senator Elizabeth Warren.
In 2025, it is estimated that Trump's urban occupations cost around $496 million. This includes $223 million for the D.C. deployment and $193 million for Los Angeles.
The Intercept has long highlighted the issue of corporate media outlets covering Trump's actions with flattering headlines, describing him as "unconventional" or "testing boundaries." The Intercept is fighting back, but needs to expand its reporting capacity to effectively take on Trump's administration.
As Hanna Homestead of the National Priorities Project said, "They are spending billions to militarize our streets while cutting food aid, healthcare, social services, and labor and environmental protections – at a time of unparalleled wealth inequality."
The deployments are aimed at quelling dissent, assisting anti-immigration efforts, protecting federal buildings and personnel, or addressing crime. Despite setbacks in federal courts and the Supreme Court's refusal to allow a military occupation of Chicago, Trump withdrew forces from California, Oregon, and Illinois earlier this month. Troops remain deployed in Washington D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans, with 200 members of the Texas National Guard on standby for deployment.
The cost of these deployments is projected to exceed $660 million this year if they continue until December. The most expensive deployment is in Washington D.C., which is expected to cost over $660 million by the end of the year alone.
Critics have accused Trump's actions as an attempt to intimidate and control minority communities, with some calling it a form of authoritarianism. "Our military budget is not a slush fund for the President to carry out his political stunts," said Senator Elizabeth Warren.
In 2025, it is estimated that Trump's urban occupations cost around $496 million. This includes $223 million for the D.C. deployment and $193 million for Los Angeles.
The Intercept has long highlighted the issue of corporate media outlets covering Trump's actions with flattering headlines, describing him as "unconventional" or "testing boundaries." The Intercept is fighting back, but needs to expand its reporting capacity to effectively take on Trump's administration.
As Hanna Homestead of the National Priorities Project said, "They are spending billions to militarize our streets while cutting food aid, healthcare, social services, and labor and environmental protections – at a time of unparalleled wealth inequality."
. And it's not like they're just doing some light policing or community outreach. They're literally occupying cities and putting up checkpoints... what's next? It feels like Trump's trying to send a message, but to who? I'm not sure if he thinks his grandkids are going to get a hero's welcome when they grow up 
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. We need to know what's really going on here before Trump starts talking about "law and order"...
I mean I get that he wants to protect people and all but $500 million is just wild 
like what else could they spend it on instead? And the thing is, Senator Elizabeth Warren is right too 
our military budget should be for defense not some kind of slush fund 
The Intercept needs to step up its game to cover this stuff objectively 
In my opinion, this tactic only serves to fuel tensions and further exacerbate social inequality. 
that's like, what if we used that money to fix our roads or build more libraries instead? 
especially when we have so much wealth inequality going on in this country 
Anyway, I guess it's good that some people are speaking out against it, like Senator Warren and Hanna Homestead... they're trying to hold our leaders accountable, you know? 
. I mean, $500 million so far and it's not even halfway through the year 
. And what's with all this talk about intimidating minority communities? 
It feels like a big ol' PR stunt 
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. And what's with the corporate media just rolling over for Trump? 
. At a time of wealth inequality, this is just plain cruel 
.