A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department's request to pause a judge's order blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland. The court supported Trump's authority to send troops in response to protests that damaged federal property and threatened ICE officers, amid ongoing legal challenges and judicial rulings questioning the legality of such actions. The case highlights tensions over federal military use in domestic unrest, with some judges opposing and others affirming Trump's actions. The story is evolving as courts continue to weigh the legality of deploying troops in US cities today, October 21, 2025.