Thousands of National Guard troops are set to remain on the streets of Washington, DC as the city prepares to host America 250 celebrations — and the price tag, according to NPR, is steep.
The high-profile Guard deployments that drew national attention have wound down, but the troops haven’t gone home. Several American cities still have boots on the ground, DC among them. The America 250 events — marking the United States’ semiquincentennial — are driving a significant continued military presence in the capital.
NPR reported Saturday, May 31, that the ongoing deployments are costing substantial sums, though the outlet didn’t specify a dollar figure in the details available. What’s clear is that the Guard isn’t being pulled back anytime soon, at least not before the celebrations run their course.
Washington has long absorbed the logistical weight of major national commemorations — parades, ceremonies, dignitaries. This one is bigger than most. The 250th anniversary of American independence is the kind of event that draws planning years in advance, and a sustained Guard presence is part of that picture.
The full scope of the deployment — how many troops, how long they’ll stay, and what the final bill will look like — hasn’t been spelled out publicly yet.
Originally reported by NPR. Read the original report.
