National Guard soldiers are earning up to $11,000/month to occupy DC

National Guard
Written By Free DC

When the National Guard’s deployment to DC first started nearly a year ago, many people here spoke about them with sympathy. “They don’t want to be here any more than we want them here,” is something we’ve heard often this past year. This thinking is wrong and needs to change.

Many National Guard soldiers are participating in the DC occupation because it’s an easy assignment and they’re getting paid handsomely to do it.* Not only that, in addition to salary soldiers deployed in DC also get lodging at private hotels, a per diem allowance to cover all food, and a tax-free housing allowance as well as health care coverage for family back home.

In total, some Guard members are earning as much as $11,000 a month to erode the rights of people here. Here’s how we calculate this number.

 
 

When National Guard members are activated for more than 30 consecutive days, they generally receive active-duty pay and allowances. Their total compensation is made up of four components:

1. Base Pay
Base Pay is determined by a service member's rank and years of service. This is the only major component discussed here that is generally taxable.

2. Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
BAS is a non-taxable allowance intended to help offset the cost of meals. The amount differs for officers and enlisted personnel.

3. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
BAH is a non-taxable housing allowance intended to help cover rent and utilities. The amount depends on where the service member lives and whether they have dependents. Those living in higher-cost areas generally receive a higher BAH.

4. Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE)
Often referred to as “per diem” (latin for “per day”), M&IE is a daily allowance for meals and incidental expenses while traveling on Temporary Duty. The Fiscal Year 2026 M&IE rate for Washington, DC is $92 per day.

Sample calculation

To provide a conservative estimate, let's look at a relatively junior enlisted service member from a lower-cost area deployed in DC.

Assumptions:

  • E-4 (Specialist/Corporal)

  • 4 years of service

  • Home station: Sumter, South Carolina

  • Activated for more than 30 consecutive days

  • On Temporary Duty in Washington, DC

  • No dependents

Estimated monthly compensation

  • Base Pay: $3,482.40

  • Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): $476.95

  • Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): $1,149.00

  • Washington, DC M&IE (Per Diem): $92/day × 30 days = $2,760.00

Estimated total monthly compensation: $7,868.35

Note that less than half of this amount is taxable income, since BAS, BAH, and M&IE are generally non-taxable allowances or reimbursements under federal law.

This example is intentionally conservative. Total compensation can be higher depending on:

  • Higher rank

  • More years of service

  • A higher-cost home duty location (resulting in higher BAH)

  • Having dependents

  • Additional authorized pays or allowances

Assuming the same location, a Staff Sergeant (E-6) would make around $9,200/month and a Captain (O-3) would make around $12,000/month.

This estimate does not include:

  • The value of government-paid or reimbursed lodging

  • Travel reimbursements

  • The value of health insurance provided to the service member’s family

  • The value of Veterans benefits accrued during deployment (G.I. Bill, VA loan, etc).

  • Other special or incentive pays that may apply

In other words, this is not an estimate of salary alone. It is an estimate of the total compensation and reimbursements that may accompany a long-term National Guard activation with TDY orders to Washington, DC.

Sources

* We recognize that individuals are making the choice to serve within an economy that is financially incentivizing jobs in the military, policing, and surveillance while destroying jobs in education, child care, health care, social services, the arts, public lands, and so much more. Trump has proposed a record-shattering $1.5 trillion in military spending this year. Meanwhile, nearly half of American families cannot afford the true cost of living, and cost of essential goods is rising faster than earnings.

DC communities deserve to live free from soldiers patrolling our neighborhoods, and we collectively deserve an economy that works for all of us, not just billionaires.

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