National Guard's D.C. Deployment Quietly Extended to 2029
One year after troops began patrolling the capital, a watchdog estimates the mission will cost about $3 billion, and studies have found no effect on violent crime.
Today marks one year since thousands of National Guard members began patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., as part of the Trump administration's anti-crime mission — a deployment that has since been quietly extended to Inauguration Day 2029.
That makes it the longest and largest National Guard deployment under this administration. President Trump ordered the troops into the nation's capital last year after declaring a "crime emergency" and launching the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, even though violent crime in the city was at a 30-year low.
The nonpartisan watchdog Project on Government Oversight estimates the deployment will cost roughly $3 billion by 2029. Multiple studies have since found that the presence of armed troops has had no effect on violent crime.
Six states vote
Six states hold primary elections today. In parts of Alabama, some residents are voting for a second time this primary season after newly redrawn congressional maps pushed several district primaries from May to August, and some voters worry the confusion could depress turnout.
In the Midwest, the Minnesota and Wisconsin primaries will test the strength of progressive candidates against more traditional Democrats, a week after Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated the more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan. Several Trump-endorsed candidates are on the ballot, including MyPillow founder Mike Lindell for governor of Minnesota. The president is also backing Darline Graham, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, for the Senate in South Carolina.
Colombia earthquake
More than 130 people have died after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake caused extensive destruction in western Colombia. Authorities say the toll is expected to rise as search and rescue work continues.
Reporter Manuel Rueda says four cities — Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó — were hit hardest, across an area spanning about 250 miles. Rescue teams could struggle to reach remote regions such as Chocó because of poor roads and limited airports. Many survivors are sleeping outside to avoid further collapses; others have taken shelter in stadiums.
Vaccine order
Trump signed an executive order Monday seeking to cut the number of federally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11 and to split the combined MMR shot for measles, mumps and rubella. The order pursues goals similar to CDC plans from January that a judge later blocked, and is likely to face legal challenges of its own.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
