Warren Statement on New CBO Estimate that Domestic Military Deployments Cost More Than Half a Billion Dollars

"Our military budget is not a slush fund for the President to carry out his political stunts...Ripping them away from their homes, jobs, and families in pursuit of a cruel immigration agenda is a disrespect to their service"
CBO Estimate (PDF)
Washington, D.C. —Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new report revealing the Trump administration’s domestic deployments of the National Guard and Marines have cost at least $589 million, more than double what the bicameral investigation led by Senator Warren and Representative Garamendi previously revealed. Their investigation found that the Pentagon had committed at least $258 million for the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges.
The CBO’s report includes a breakdown of the cost of troop deployments (an average of $260 per person per day or $95,000 per person per year), along with health care, lodging, food, and transportation costs for those service members. According to the report, continuing deployments to Washington, D.C.; Memphis; New Orleans; and Chicago will cost $93 million per month.
In response to the new report, Senator Warren released the below statement:
“Our military budget is not a slush fund for the President to carry out his political stunts. Our National Guard and Marines are needed to respond to natural disasters and national security threats. Ripping them away from their homes, jobs, and families in pursuit of a cruel immigration agenda is a disrespect to their service.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Trump administration have displayed gross incompetence by deploying out-of-control ICE and CBP agents in American cities. Our military should have no part in it. We need accountability and this administration must answer for wasting more than half a billion taxpayer dollars.”
CBO’s report is in response to anOctober 27 requestfrom Senators Merkley, Warren, Wyden, Alsobrooks, Blumenthal, Van Hollen, Duckworth, Padilla, Booker, Durbin, and Kim.
Senator Warren’s investigations have repeatedly revealed the Trump administration’s misuse of the military and the importance of the National Guard being able to respond to natural disasters:
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