US Troop Deployments Cost $473 Million Amid Trump's Growing Police State Threat
President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of US troops to occupy several major cities, with costs now exceeding half a billion dollars. The deployments have sparked concerns about Trump's growing authoritarian tactics and his disregard for democratic norms.
The National Priorities Project estimates that nearly 200 million taxpayer dollars have been spent on these occupations since June, including $172 million in Los Angeles, $270 million in Washington D.C., $15 million in Portland, Oregon, and smaller amounts in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago. The deployments have been justified as necessary to quell dissent, but critics argue that they are a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate protesters and suppress free speech.
The deployments have been carried out under the Insurrection Act, a law that allows the president to deploy federal troops into domestic territory without congressional approval. Critics argue that this law has never been used in its current form before, and that Trump's actions are a gross abuse of power.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to deploy additional troops to more cities, including Baltimore, New York City, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, and others, despite the lack of any credible threat from protesters. The deployments have also been criticized for their use of heavy-handed tactics, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters.
Civil liberties groups have condemned Trump's actions as a clear threat to democracy and free speech. "Protest plays an essential role in our democracy and President Trump is hellbent on suppressing it," said Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU's National Security Project.
The deployment of troops to urban areas has also raised concerns about the normalization of military policing of protests. As the founders of this country made abundantly clear, turning troops on civilians is an intolerable threat to our liberties. President Trump is imperiling our First Amendment rights, and we urge the court to deny his application."
Trump's actions have sparked widespread criticism from lawmakers, civil liberties groups, and ordinary citizens. "Why is the Trump administration refusing to be transparent about how much money it's spending on this political stunt?" asked Sen. Elizabeth Warren. People don't need troops in their backyard — they need health care, housing, and cheaper groceries.
The escalating use of US troops to quell dissent has sparked fears that Trump's authoritarian takeover of the US government is becoming increasingly entrenched. The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
Join us in standing up for democratic values and holding our leaders accountable. Become a member today to support our independent journalism and help us continue to hold those in power to account.
President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of US troops to occupy several major cities, with costs now exceeding half a billion dollars. The deployments have sparked concerns about Trump's growing authoritarian tactics and his disregard for democratic norms.
The National Priorities Project estimates that nearly 200 million taxpayer dollars have been spent on these occupations since June, including $172 million in Los Angeles, $270 million in Washington D.C., $15 million in Portland, Oregon, and smaller amounts in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago. The deployments have been justified as necessary to quell dissent, but critics argue that they are a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate protesters and suppress free speech.
The deployments have been carried out under the Insurrection Act, a law that allows the president to deploy federal troops into domestic territory without congressional approval. Critics argue that this law has never been used in its current form before, and that Trump's actions are a gross abuse of power.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to deploy additional troops to more cities, including Baltimore, New York City, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, and others, despite the lack of any credible threat from protesters. The deployments have also been criticized for their use of heavy-handed tactics, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters.
Civil liberties groups have condemned Trump's actions as a clear threat to democracy and free speech. "Protest plays an essential role in our democracy and President Trump is hellbent on suppressing it," said Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU's National Security Project.
The deployment of troops to urban areas has also raised concerns about the normalization of military policing of protests. As the founders of this country made abundantly clear, turning troops on civilians is an intolerable threat to our liberties. President Trump is imperiling our First Amendment rights, and we urge the court to deny his application."
Trump's actions have sparked widespread criticism from lawmakers, civil liberties groups, and ordinary citizens. "Why is the Trump administration refusing to be transparent about how much money it's spending on this political stunt?" asked Sen. Elizabeth Warren. People don't need troops in their backyard — they need health care, housing, and cheaper groceries.
The escalating use of US troops to quell dissent has sparked fears that Trump's authoritarian takeover of the US government is becoming increasingly entrenched. The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
Join us in standing up for democratic values and holding our leaders accountable. Become a member today to support our independent journalism and help us continue to hold those in power to account.
$473 million is just the tip of the iceberg, I'd say. What's next? The whole country being locked down like some sort of dystopian nightmare? 
Trump's got a serious grudge against the protesters, and it's getting outta hand.
$473 million is just the tip of the iceberg, fam 
. Newsflash, Donald: we're not impressed by your authoritarian tantrums 
. The Insurrection Act is a dirty trick, and you're using it to silence dissenting voices 
. It's not about quelling dissent, it's about crushing opposition 
.
You can't hide behind a veil of 'national security' when it's just a excuse to suppress free speech and intimidate protesters 
. We need more accountability from our leaders, not less 
.
. It's time for some real opposition, folks! 
.
so these guys are all worried about $473 million, but I think what's really crazy is that Trump's trying to charge taxpayer dollars for playing "cop" on his own citizens... like what's the price of freedom from a police state? 
next thing you know, he'll be charging us extra for breathing 
.
I'm getting really uneasy about this 
. We need healthcare, housing, and affordable groceries, not troops and tear gas 
. Anyway, I'm supporting The Intercept right now 
. Anyone else joining the fight for democracy? 
Trump's military occupation of major cities is straight outta Orwell's worst nightmare! 200 million taxpayer dollars already spent on quelling protests? That's like, what, 50 cents per citizen?! 
It's getting pretty clear that the Insurrection Act is just a fancy way of saying "trump wants to be dictator" 
. Trump deploying troops all over the place is just getting out of control, and it's not like there's even any real threat from protesters. He's basically using them as an excuse to crack down on anyone who disagrees with him. It's like, what's next? He's going to start rounding up people for speaking out against him? 
. The ACLU's right to say that protest plays a vital role in democracy – can't agree more 
.
. We need to be vigilant and make sure our voices are still heard 
where the military is patrolling our streets instead of keeping us safe. I mean, come on Trump 
We need our leaders to listen to us, not try to silence us with force 
#NotMyPresident #StandUpForDemocracy #FreeSpeechMatters
we need to stand up against this and demand our rights be respected 
. And don't even get me started on the use of tear gas and rubber bullets – that's just wrong, man 
.
. Newsflash, Donald: you're not a dictator! We still have checks and balances in place for a reason.
! And what's with the justification that it's to quell dissent? Sounds like a total power grab to me 
#DemocracyInDanger.
not troops in their backyard. And where's the transparency on these deployments? Sen Warren is asking some tough questions