A U.S. federal judge ruled Thursday that the deployment of National Guard troops ordered by President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. is illegal.
U.S. District Court Judge Jia Michelle Cobb of Washington ruled against the Trump Administration by concluding that the troop deployment ordered in August and in effect to date violates “the autonomy” of the U.S. capital.
Illegal deployment
In her ruling, the judge ordered that National Guard troops be withdrawn from Washington by December 11, giving the GOP a 21-day moratorium.
The Administration had filed a motion arguing the alleged constitutional power to make use of military forces in the U.S. capital.
But this was rejected by Judge Cobb on the grounds that the Pentagon overstepped its bounds by mobilizing thousands of troops outside their assigned areas.
Trump mobilized those troops after issuing an executive order on August 11, 2025 declaring a “crime emergency.”
In less than a month, more than 2,300 National Guard troops sent by various Republican-governed states were added.
The measure was not exclusive to Washington, as Trump applied the same strategy in other cities governed by Democrats.
These included Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles, which led to litigation in federal courts over allegations of overreach of their powers.
With information from EFE
What is the National Guard for?
The U.S. National Guard is a reserve military force that performs both state and federal functions.
Its main tasks include responding to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, fires and earthquakes.
As well as supporting local authorities in emergency situations and maintaining public order when requested by the governors.
At the federal level, it can be mobilized by the president for overseas military operations, border security, critical infrastructure protection or national crises.
It is a hybrid force: citizen soldiers who combine military service with their civilian life, ready to act when the country needs them.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
