Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., through February, CNN reported Thursday.

The deployment of more than 2,000 service members was set to expire at the end of November, CNN said.

When reached, an Army official told The Hill the troops are continuing their mission “at [Hegseth’s] direction.” The official added that service members “are patrolling communities, deterring crime, and providing vital assistance to the citizens and visitors of the District of Columbia.”

The Hill has reached out to the Army for clarification on the timeline of the extension and to the office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) for comment.

In August, President Trump deployed

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