Trump Federalizes California National Guard
🔴 Abuse of Power ·
Jun 7–ongoing, 2025
Summary
On June 7, 2025, Trump signed a memo federalizing and deploying 4,000 California National Guard troops, and 700 U.S. Marines, to Los Angeles over the explicit objection of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had not been consulted and whose consent is required by the Constitution and applicable federal law (Title 10). It was the first time in 60 years a president had activated a state’s National Guard against the governor’s wishes. Trump invoked a rarely-used law allowing federalization during ‘actual or threatened rebellion,’ claiming immigration enforcement protests constituted a ‘form of rebellion against the authority of the government.’ Newsom called the deployment ‘purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.’ U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled Trump was using the Guard illegally and ordered him to relinquish control; the 9th Circuit temporarily stayed that ruling. California and the ACLU filed separate lawsuits. DOD additionally ordered the federalized Guard to accompany ICE on civilian immigration raids, an expansion Newsom called ‘a direct violation’ of the Posse Comitatus Act.
Key Figures
Institutions Involved
Sources
- An appeals court backs Trump’s control of the California National Guard for now
- US judge says Trump must end National Guard deployment in Los Angeles