New statistics show that the number of Americans who have reported missing work due to military and civic duties has hit a 19-year high in 2025. The release of the data comes as the Trump administration has deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to address crime and provide security amid anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots.
According to The Washington Post, data obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that American workers reported 90,000 instances of work absences from January to August due to military deployments, jury duty, and other civic and military duties. The outlet noted that the number of work absences due to military and civil duties is over double the amount of absences reported during the same eight months in 2024.
The Washington Post reported that this year’s absences for civic and military duties represent the highest number of civic and military work absences since former President George W. Bush deployed significant numbers of National Guard troops to the southern border, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
“You can see an elevation in the data, that’s for darn sure,” William Beach, who led the Bureau of Labor Statistics under President Donald Trump’s first administration, said. “It’s more than likely because of a military influence — an increase in reserve duty or an increase in military service.”
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According to the data obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the number of military-related work absences is at a 19-year high, over double the number of people who reported missing work for military duties reported missing work over labor disputes.
The Independent reported that there were 22,000 absences reported by American workers with military and civic duties in January. The outlet noted that the National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C., in January to provide additional security for the transfer of power from former President Joe Biden to Trump. The National Guard was also deployed to California to provide assistance amid the state’s devastating wildfires in January.
According to The Independent, roughly 10,000 military and civic absence instances were recorded in June amid the Trump administration’s decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to crack down on anti-ICE riots.
In a statement obtained by The Washington Post, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that Trump “has rightfully deployed the National Guard to cities like Los Angeles, which was ravaged by violent riots … and Washington, DC, while strengthening small businesses and revitalizing our economy.”
Kelly added, “These deployments saved small businesses from further destruction and preserved great American jobs.”
