LINCOLN — About 200 members of the Nebraska National Guard will deploy to Washington, D.C., to provide security during celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, Gov. Jim Pillen announced Thursday.
Nebraska is one of 10 states contributing troops after a request from the chief of the National Guard Bureau to help protect national monuments and federal sites during the extended celebration period. The deployment, which has been in planning since August, is scheduled to begin in late February.
Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly said the mission reflects Nebraska’s role in helping safeguard the nation’s capital, noting that Washington belongs to all Americans, not just neighboring states.
According to Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska’s adjutant general, the mission is expected to last between 90 and 120 days. Guard members will operate in small teams, focusing primarily on monument security and conducting safety patrols throughout the Capitol region.
Pillen emphasized that the deployment will be fully funded by the federal government and will not cost Nebraska taxpayers. While there is no specific intelligence indicating heightened threats to national monuments, the governor said the presence of Guard members serves as a visible deterrent to crime.
During his first term, Pillen has authorized multiple National Guard deployments, including missions to the southern border and emergency response efforts in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa following the 2024 tornadoes.
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