US Court Temporarily Blocks Trump’s National Guard Deployment in DC

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., without the approval of the city’s mayor. The ruling, issued on Thursday, November 21, marks a legal setback for the former president’s efforts to deploy the military in American cities.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, ordered the temporary halt but paused her ruling until December 11 to allow the Trump administration time to appeal. The case highlights ongoing legal questions over the president’s authority to use troops for domestic law enforcement.

The lawsuit was filed by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who argued that allowing Trump to deploy troops without local approval would violate the law and set a dangerous precedent. The complaint also stated that such action would unlawfully interfere with the city’s law enforcement powers. Trump announced the deployment on August 11, and the lawsuit was filed on September 4.

White House representatives said Trump acted within his legal authority and described the lawsuit as an attempt to undermine his efforts to reduce violent crime. The administration has argued that the troops are operating lawfully and have helped maintain order in the city.

Trump has also expressed intentions to deploy National Guard troops in other major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon, to address what he describes as violent unrest and lawlessness related to illegal immigration. Democratic leaders in these cities and states have sued to block the deployments, claiming the moves are politically motivated and involve militarized shows of force.

So far, trial courts have sided with local leaders in every city that challenged the troop deployments, though an appeals court allowed National Guard forces to remain in Los Angeles. The Washington, D.C., case adds to a growing legal debate over the balance of power between the federal government and local authorities regarding the use of military personnel in civilian policing.

The ruling by Judge Cobb emphasizes that, even in Washington, where the president has unique law enforcement powers, federal action must respect legal limits and the authority of local leaders. The December 11 appeal deadline will determine whether the National Guard deployment can proceed as planned.