A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to halt the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., ruling that the administration overstepped its authority by stationing troops in the city without local consent. The decision marks a major legal setback for the White House, which has defended the deployment as necessary to stabilize unrest and assist police operations.
According to the ruling, the president’s use of the Guard violated long-standing limits on military involvement in domestic law enforcement, particularly in jurisdictions that did not request federal support. Washington, D.C.’s leadership had not sought the deployment and repeatedly argued that the city’s home-rule powers were being overridden.
The judge’s decision includes a 21-day stay, giving the administration time to file an appeal before the order takes effect. During this period, the Guard will remain in place unless a higher court intervenes.
Legal analysts say the case could set an important precedent for how far a president can go in deploying military resources to American cities without state or local approval. The ruling arrives amid heightened political tension surrounding federal authority, public protests and security measures in the nation’s capital.
The White House has not yet issued a detailed response, but officials indicated they expect to challenge the ruling, potentially setting up a fast-tracked battle in the appellate courts.