What's happened
A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily halted President Trump's attempt to deploy California National Guard troops without gubernatorial approval, citing changed conditions in Los Angeles and legal limits on military use in domestic affairs. The decision is on hold until Monday, with the administration expected to appeal.
What's behind the headline?
The legal and political implications of this case are significant. The judge's comments suggest a clear stance that crises are temporary and that the federal government cannot indefinitely control state National Guard units without ongoing justification. This ruling underscores the constitutional limits on military involvement in domestic affairs, especially when the original emergency has subsided. The Trump administration's efforts to extend control and deploy troops into Democratic-led cities reveal a strategic attempt to assert federal authority amid political tensions. The decision to put the order on hold until Monday indicates ongoing legal battles, with potential impacts on future federal-state military cooperation. This case highlights the delicate balance of power and the importance of legal boundaries in domestic military deployment, which could influence similar disputes in the future.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the judge's decision is a response to the administration's attempt to extend control over California Guard troops, emphasizing that 'the National Guard is not the president's private army.' AP News highlights that the judge questioned whether the administration could control the troops 'forever,' and notes that the deployment was initially justified by protests and violence. The New York Times provides context that the initial deployment was the first in decades without a governor’s request, and details the legal arguments about whether the exigency persists. All sources agree that the legal challenge centers on whether the conditions in Los Angeles justify ongoing federal control, with California asserting that the situation has improved and the emergency has passed.
How we got here
In June 2025, President Trump authorized the deployment of over 4,000 California National Guard troops to assist with immigration enforcement amid protests. The deployment was made without California's governor’s approval, marking a rare federal intervention in state military affairs. Over time, troop numbers decreased, but the administration extended the deployment until February and attempted to use Guard members in other cities like Portland and Chicago, despite opposition from local officials. California challenged the move, arguing it violated laws limiting military involvement in domestic issues, especially as protests declined and conditions changed. The legal battle centered on whether the president could maintain control of the troops once the initial exigency passed.
Go deeper
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The California National Guard is a federally funded California military force, part of the National Guard of the United States.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Charles Roberts Breyer is an American attorney and jurist serving as a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.