In a strategic move to maintain security in the nation’s capital, National Guard troops stationed in Washington, D.C., are expected to remain through the end of the year, according to insights shared with Fox News by a U.S. official.

President Donald Trump has been clear about his commitment to ensuring the safety of Washington, D.C. A White House representative emphasized that the administration is prepared to utilize all necessary resources, including the deployment of National Guard units, to safeguard the city.

Currently, 2,429 National Guard troops are actively engaged in this mission. Of these, 712 hail from the D.C. National Guard, while the remaining 1,717 have been dispatched from 11 different states across the country.

In a memo signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and dated Wednesday, it was noted that the conditions surrounding the mission justify an extension beyond February’s conclusion. This extension aims to support President Trump’s ongoing initiatives to reestablish law and order, as reported by The Associated Press.

Illustrating the presence and dedication of these troops, National Guard members were seen gathered as the body of Metropolitan Police Department officer Terry Bennett was escorted past the Capitol on January 8, 2026, marking a somber yet significant moment in the city. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The National Guard said in an article on its website last November that, “signs of renewal are taking shape under the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission — a coordinated federal, local and military effort focused on improving public safety and restoring the District’s most recognizable spaces.”

“Launched in August 2025, the initiative brings together multiple agencies, including the Department of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security and the District of Columbia National Guard, under a shared goal of protecting, preserving and presenting the nation’s capital as a safe, clean and welcoming environment for all,” the article added. 

National Guard members patrol the Washington Mall, with the Washington Monument in the background, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Rahmat Gul/AP)

The U.S. Marshals Service previously said that, “as of December 31, the Operation Make D.C. Safe & Beautiful Task Force has arrested more than 8,152 violent fugitives, including 20 for homicide, 1,343 for narcotics, 633 for weapons offenses, 29 for sex offenses, and 48 known gang members.”

“As a result of the surge to date, there have been 8,406 arrests and 856 guns that have been taken off the street, which prevents them from being used in a homicide or an assault with a deadly weapon, or any other kind of crime,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said earlier this month. 

National Guard are seen on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Rahmat Gul/AP)

The National Guard’s deployment in the nation’s capital made headlines last November after two members were shot allegedly by an Afghan national. One of those National Guard members, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, later died at a hospital.