The National Guard Deployments Are Very, Very Expensive

"Taxpayers should see them as incredibly expensive. The National Guard's mostly quiet walks through Washington, D.C., are expected to cost a little more than $200 million, USA Today reported, and that's the figure just for the D.C. National Guard, not for the eight states that have sent troops. Those likely more than double that cost, because out-of-state troops make up a majority of the D.C. deployment."

"According to the California National Guard, the deployment to Los Angeles cost another $118 million as of early September, a number that continues to grow as 100 troops remain in the city, long after the precipitating unrest has died down. Tens of millions of dollars-perhaps hundreds of millions in total-will be spent on deployments to Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, if Trump's plans for those cities proceed."

National Guard deployments to U.S. cities for domestic operations are generating very high costs for taxpayers. The D.C. National Guard presence alone is expected to cost a little more than $200 million, and out-of-state troop contributions likely more than double that figure. The California National Guard reported its Los Angeles deployment cost $118 million as of early September, with costs still rising. Planned or proposed deployments to Chicago, Portland, and Memphis are likely to add tens or hundreds of millions more, potentially bringing total spending to roughly two-thirds of a billion dollars. Funding for wages, food, and travel comes from the Defense Department.

Read at The Atlantic