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A new report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), released on January 28, provides the first comprehensive account of the federal government’s push to use military assets for local law enforcement. the nonpartisan analysisin response to a request for information from the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), revealed that between June 2025 and December 2025, the cost of moving National Guard and active duty Marine Corps personnel to six major American cities amounted to approximately $496 million.
The report highlights the financial burden is ongoing and significant. If the administration maintains troop levels as they are at the end of 2025, the CBO estimates that the recurring cost of the federal budget will be $93 million per month, while the deployment of only 1,000 National Guard personnel in a US city in 2026 will cost $18 million to $21 million per month, depending on differences in the local cost of living.
Scope of operations
The half-billion-dollar price tag covers operations that begin in mid-2025. According to the report, the administration has sent forces to Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Memphis, Portland, and Chicago. While the New Orleans shipment also occurred, it was initiated late in the year, so CBO did not include it in the report. This means that the actual cost of deploying federal troops is higher than calculated.
The report also highlighted the logistical complexities of moving troops. For example, the administration kept 200 National Guard personnel mobilized in Texas even though they had completed their operations in Chicago, contributing to the overall cost.
Uncertainty in the future
While the CBO provided a baseline for current monthly spending, the agency stressed that predicting the final bill for 2026 is difficult. CBO described future costs as “highly uncertain,” citing the unpredictability of the mission’s size and duration.
Two major factors complicate these estimates. First, administration policies regarding the size and location of deployments can be changed. Second, the federal government faces significant legal difficulties. The report says that legal challenges have successfully stopped deployment in some cities, changing the operational landscape and the resulting financial obligations.
As of January 2026, the baseline suggests that without a policy change or court order, the federal government will continue to spend nearly $100 million per month to maintain its current footprint. However, if the administration chooses to expand operations, the CBO formula creates a clear expectation: Each additional battalion-size element of 1,000 troops will add $18 million to the monthly ledger.
For this story, luck Journalists use generative AI as a research tool. An editor verifies the accuracy of the information before publication.
