Overview
- U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer granted a preliminary injunction directing that command of California National Guard troops be returned to Governor Gavin Newsom.
- Breyer found the extensions exceeded presidential authority, rejecting arguments that protest unrest constituted a rebellion or that re-federalizations are beyond judicial review.
- Roughly 4,000 troops were federalized in June, with the presence later reduced to about 100 tied to the Los Angeles mission after drawdowns and redeployments to other cities.
- The Justice Department and the White House say Guard forces remain necessary to protect federal personnel and property, and they signaled an appeal.
- Parallel challenges to deployments in Portland, Chicago and Washington, D.C., are moving through appellate courts and the Supreme Court as Senate Armed Services conducts oversight.