Judge Blocks Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Washington, DC

A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump and the Defense Department exceeded their legal authority when they deployed National Guard troops in Washington, DC earlier this year. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the DC Attorney General’s office in September challenging the Trump administration’s surge of federal law enforcement and National Guard personnel into the city.

In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb determined that federal officials acted contrary to the law by using the DC National Guard for non-military, crime-deterrence missions without a request from local civil authorities. Cobb also found that the administration lacked statutory authority to bring in out-of-state National Guard units for operations within the district.

The judge wrote that the federal government’s actions irreparably harmed Washington, DC’s ability to exercise its own sovereign powers. While Cobb ordered that the deployment must end, she delayed the enforcement of that order for 21 days to allow the Trump administration an opportunity to file an appeal.

The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing tension between the federal government and the District regarding law enforcement operations and the limits of presidential power. The case will continue as the administration weighs its next steps.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.