(The Hill) — In a significant announcement on Thursday, the National Guard unveiled a $292 million initiative to establish “up to 2,000 apartment-style lodging units” for its members in Washington D.C. This endeavor underscores the commitment to providing sustainable accommodations for personnel stationed in the nation’s capital.
The lucrative housing contract has been awarded to Placemakr, a prominent corporate lodging firm, marking the largest collaboration of its kind within the National Guard’s history. Placemakr has previously collaborated with Hilton on an extensive apartment project in Phoenix, Arizona, showcasing its expertise in developing vast lodging solutions.
Despite the ambitious nature of the plan, local activist groups have expressed concerns. They criticize the project for not specifying an end date for the deployment, leaving many questions about its longevity unanswered.
According to a National Guard official who spoke with The Hill in July, there are plans to maintain a National Guard presence in the city until at least Inauguration Day 2029. However, this proposal is still pending approval from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and remains subject to change at the discretion of the president.
Hegseth has previously expressed his support for the ongoing deployment, acknowledging the dedication and service of National Guard members during a July address. His appreciation underscores the importance of their continued presence in the capital.
The contract supports requirements outlined in Executive Order 14252 which created the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The guard members have been deployed for around 11 months in an effort by President Trump and other officials to lower crime and “beautify” the nation’s capital.
“You’ve [guard members] done over 530 medical assistances to personnel, you restored children back to their families 27 times, and you have done amazing things in support of law enforcement to make sure we reduce crime,” the National Guard wrote.
After nearly a year, about 5,150 National Guard troops are still in the nation’s capital, comprising 599 D.C. National Guard and 4,403 troops from 21 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The contract for housing these troops was completed in 85 days, which the agency claims is faster than other comparable contract timelines. It also reported that the accelerated timeline received some agency-level vendor protest.
The new housing project adds onto what the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated cost of deployment at $3 million daily. With Sens. Gary Peters (D‑Mich.) and Andy Kim (D‑N.J.) reporting in February that the cost of deployment for taxpayers is nearly $1.65 million.
This lodging deal, the National Guard claims, is nearly 50 percent cheaper than the projected costs from paying for commercial hotels.