The National Guard Bureau will spend $292 million to house thousands of troop members deployed in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the U.S. General Services Administration.
The guards — first deployed last summer after President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in the District — have been staying in hotels across the region.
Officials say the contract allows for a “long-term housing solution” for the deployed personnel and the deal, facilitated through the online rental platform Placemakr, will secure 2,000 “apartment-style lodging units” for the service members.
“This contract delivers stable, secure housing for our Soldiers and Airmen while achieving significant cost savings for the government,” Monica Williams, executive director of acquisitions and head of contracting activity for the National Guard Bureau, said in a statement.
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The contract is set to cover the housing fees for troops through June 2027, according to the military news site Task and Purpose. It’s unclear how long the National Guard Bureau will rent the apartments.
These housing moves mark the latest step in what has evolved from a temporary deployment into a long-term mission in the nation’s capital. Nearly 5,000 troops from across more than 20 states have been deployed in D.C., and the National Guard will maintain its presence in the city through the rest of Trump’s term. The administration’s continued use of deployments would cost $95 million per month, the Congressional Budget Office estimated in January — months before the government mobilized 1,500 additional members to D.C. in May.
Correction: This story previously misstated the bureau had coordinated with city officials to make the deal.
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