Trump Plans Expanded National Guard Deployments in Major U.S. Cities for 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Building on a controversial strategy from the previous year, President Donald Trump is poised to extend National Guard deployments to several major U.S. cities in 2026. The move comes after a series of 2025 deployments intended to bolster security around federal buildings, support law enforcement operations, and assist with immigration enforcement efforts.
Throughout 2025, Trump sent National Guard troops to cities including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans. These deployments, while welcomed by some communities, sparked fierce opposition in jurisdictions with sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In some cases, the administration circumvented Democratic governors by federalizing National Guard units or deploying forces from states with more sympathetic leadership.
Despite a recent setback, the White House remains committed to maintaining a presence in key urban areas. A Supreme Court ruling during the Christmas week denied an immediate request to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, but the administration has vowed to continue its efforts. “The President promised the American people he would work tirelessly to enforce our immigration laws and protect federal personnel from violent rioters,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated. “He activated the National Guard to protect federal law enforcement officers and to ensure rioters did not destroy federal buildings and property. Nothing in today’s ruling detracts from that core agenda.” The legal battle over Chicago remains ongoing.
Chicago, long plagued by violent crime, remains a focal point for federal intervention. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, the city consistently ranks among those with the highest violent crime rates nationwide. Trump has publicly criticized Chicago’s handling of crime, describing the city as “out of control” following a recent train attack that left a woman critically burned.
St. Louis is another city likely to see National Guard deployments in 2026. During the announcement of troop deployments to Memphis in September 2025, Trump emphasized the need to “save St. Louis,” grouping it with Memphis and Chicago as cities suffering from high violent crime and strained local law enforcement resources. The FBI’s latest crime report corroborates these concerns, placing St. Louis among the highest in violent crime rates for cities with populations over 50,000.
These deployments are part of a broader federal effort to support local authorities amid rising crime and to enforce immigration laws more aggressively. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been involved in operations that the National Guard supports, particularly in jurisdictions resistant to federal immigration enforcement.
While the use of National Guard troops in civilian law enforcement roles remains contentious, the Trump administration argues that these measures are necessary to protect federal personnel and maintain public safety. The coming year will likely see continued legal and political battles over the scope and authority of these deployments as the administration pushes forward with its agenda.
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