Story perspectives

Trump's Troop Deployments Cost Nearly $500 Million Amid Controversy

1/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the U.S. President Donald Trump administration deployed troops to six cities in 2025 to address unrest, at a cost of nearly $500 million.
The cities named are Los Angeles, Washington, Memphis, Portland, Chicago, and New Orleans.
The CBO projects ongoing deployments could reach about $93 million per month in 2026.
Legal challenges have halted some deployments, indicating ongoing controversy surrounding these actions.

History

Historical Context

The Insurrection Act of 1807 empowers U.S. presidents to deploy military forces during civil unrest, invoked by fifteen presidents in response to various crises. In 2020, President Trump threatened its use amid protests, reflecting a historical trend of federal intervention in local conflicts. The ongoing legal challenges, including the 2025 case Newsom v. Trump, raise critical questions about civil liberties and government authority.

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Story summary

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the U.S. President Donald Trump administration deployed troops to six cities in 2025 to address unrest, at a cost of nearly $500 million.
The cities named are Los Angeles, Washington, Memphis, Portland, Chicago, and New Orleans.
The CBO projects ongoing deployments could reach about $93 million per month in 2026.
Legal challenges have halted some deployments, indicating ongoing controversy surrounding these actions.

1 / 2