Court Blocks Trump’s National Guard Deployment, Returning Troops to Newsom
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to end its federal deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles, saying the continued presence of state forces under federal control was “contrary to law” and must be returned to Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority. According to AP News, the ruling does not take effect immediately because the judge allowed time for a possible appeal.
The conflict centers on President Donald Trump’s decision in June 2025 to federalize roughly 4,000 California National Guard members under Title 10 authority following protests tied to federal immigration enforcement actions. California officials challenged that move from the start, arguing it violated federal statutes and constitutional principles of state control and civil liberties. Reuters reports the number of federalized troops had dwindled to about 300 by the time of the latest order.
The judge, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, wrote that there was no legal justification to keep the troops under federal control and rejected the argument that the deployment was necessary to enforce federal law. Democracy Docket noted the judge warned the government’s reasoning could lead to “creating a national police force made up of state troops,” a scenario he said runs contrary to law.
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“It’s a good day for our democracy and the strength of the rule of law,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, celebrating the decision as a defense of constitutional limits.
The ruling matters because it undercuts the Trump administration’s broader strategy of using federally controlled National Guard forces in American cities, tactics that have already faced legal challenges in other states and could shape future debates over domestic troop deployments.
The administration is expected to appeal to the Ninth Circuit, prolonging litigation over the limits of presidential authority in domestic military operations. What happens next is likely to hinge on higher courts’ interpretations of statutory and constitutional boundaries.
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