President Donald Trump announced that 200 Oregon National Guard troops have been placed under federal authority and are “in place” to quell what he described as escalating “chaos, death and destruction.” The deployment is aimed at protecting federal facilities and immigration enforcement in Portland.
In a public statement, Trump accused local officials of failing to enforce order and vowed the Guard would help restore law and order. A memo from the Oregon Military Department confirmed the troop activation under Title 10 for 60 days.
State leaders—including Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield—are challenging the move in court, calling it illegal and politically motivated. They argue Portland has not experienced violence warranting military action and that the Guard deployment violates state rights.
Meanwhile, local officials and Oregon National Guard commanders say that while the troops are mobilized, they have yet to be physically stationed in the city as training and vetting continue.