Newsom to Sue Trump Over National Guard deployment Orders
SACRAMENTO, CA – October 6, 2025 – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to file a lawsuit against former president donald Trump, alleging unlawful directives regarding the deployment of the California National Guard. The legal challenge stems from Trump’s attempts to utilize National Guard units from multiple states – including California – for domestic law enforcement purposes in cities like Portland,Oregon,and perhaps others,without proper authorization or adherence to constitutional protocols.
The dispute centers on Trump’s actions during and after widespread protests in 2025, where he reportedly sought to deploy National Guard troops to quell unrest, bypassing standard channels of command and potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement. Newsom’s management contends that Trump overstepped his authority by issuing direct orders to state National Guard commanders, circumventing the governors’ constitutional role as commander-in-chief of their respective state militias. This action raises critical questions about the balance of power between the federal government and states, and the appropriate use of military resources within U.S. borders.
Reports from August 2025 detailed Trump’s interest in deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., treating the entire city as a potential internal threat, and subsequent discussions regarding potential deployments to Chicago, New Orleans, and Baltimore. Newsom’s lawsuit argues that these actions represent a perilous precedent, potentially enabling future administrations to weaponize the National Guard for political purposes.
The legal filing, expected within the coming weeks, will seek a declaratory judgment affirming the governors’ authority over their state national Guard units and preventing future unauthorized deployments. The case is anticipated to draw significant attention from legal scholars and civil liberties advocates,as it directly addresses the limits of presidential power and the constitutional safeguards protecting against the militarization of domestic law enforcement.
