In a significant legal development, Judge Jia Michelle Cobb of the District Court for Washington, DC, ruled on Thursday that President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to the nation's capital was beyond his authority, violating the District's Home Rule Act. The troops, initially deployed on August 11, 2025, to aid in curbing violent crime, have had their presence legally contested for over three months.
The judge's decision presents a setback for the administration's approach to addressing crime in Washington, DC. According to Judge Cobb, deploying troops for non-military crime deterrence purposes is not within the president's jurisdiction. The judge has granted a 21-day stay on her ruling, maintaining the National Guard's presence in the city until December 11, 2025. This interval allows for the possibility of an appeal from President Trump.
The White House has defended the legality of the deployment, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stating that President Trump is acting within his lawful authority to protect federal assets and support law enforcement. Jackson criticized the lawsuit as a means to impede the President's efforts to combat violent crime in the district, to the detriment of DC residents.
President Trump issued an executive order in August, citing a crime emergency in the capital, denouncing the crime rate as "out of control" and detailing the negative impact on federal government operations. Under the order, 2,300 National Guard troops from eight states, including DC, were deployed. They worked in conjunction with federal agencies such as the FBI, ATF, DEA, and HSI to patrol the city.
Judge Cobb emphasized that the president does not have the authority to activate the National Guard in DC—or any state—for any reason he deems necessary. She argued that such actions unlawfully infringe upon local governance. The ruling came after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit contending that the White House cannot deploy troops without the mayor's approval.
The efficacy of President Trump's strategy with the National Guard has seen varying results across the country. While long-term deployments have been blocked by courts in Portland and Chicago, the troops remain active in Memphis.
The current ruling highlights ongoing tensions between federal and local authorities over the management of public safety and the extent of the president's power in deploying military resources for domestic issues.
