Overview
- U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled the Trump administration’s National Guard deployment in Washington is unlawful and bars such use without the mayor’s approval.
- Cobb found the operation illegally intrudes on local policing authority, though her order remains on hold for roughly three weeks to allow an appeal.
- The White House argues the president can lawfully deploy the Guard in the capital and says the missions are reducing crime.
- D.C.’s Guard reports directly to the president, while other states’ Guard units answer to governors, a divide reflected in ongoing court fights in places like Oregon, Tennessee and Illinois.
- Some Guard missions tied to immigration enforcement have wound down in states such as California, Oregon and Texas, and New Orleans is described in reports as the next likely target with more than 200 troops possibly arriving as soon as today as part of “Swamp Sweep.”