Trump vs. Newsom: Battle Over the California National Guard

 

Trump vs. Newsom: Battle Over the California National Guard

1. Initial Federal Court Ruling – Newsom Scores a Win

• What happened: On June 12, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer (Northern District of California) granted California’s request for a temporary restraining order. His ruling declared President Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard in Los Angeles illegal, violating the Tenth Amendment and exceeding statutory authority under 10 U.S.C. § 252

• Effect: The order mandated that control of the Guard be returned to Governor Gavin Newsom, set to take effect at noon Pacific on June 13 

• Why it matters: This was seen as a crucial defense of state sovereignty and constitutional limits on federal power. Newsom hailed it as a victory over what he termed “authoritarian overreach”

2. Appeals Court Intervenes – The Stay

• What changed: Later on June 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted Trump’s emergency motion to stay Judge Breyer’s order Effect: This pause temporarily maintains federal control over the Guard in Los Angeles, halting Newsom’s anticipated regain of authority

• Next step: A hearing is scheduled for June 17 to determine whether the lower-court ruling should be reinstated or remain on hold

3. Context: Why It Matters

• Underlying conflict: The clash highlights a deeper tension between federal authority and state sovereignty. California argues Trump overstepped legal limits, citing both the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act 

• Why it drew attention: It marks a rare instance since 1965 of a president federalizing a state's National Guard without its governor's consent 

• On-the-ground impact: Over 4,000 guard members — plus 700 Marines — were deployed to LA amid anti‑ICE protests and solidarity demonstrations that began June 6. Many saw the military presence as unnecessarily politicized

💡 What’s Next

• June 17 hearing: The 9th Circuit will hear arguments and either uphold the appeal stay, allowing the federal deployment to remain, or reinstate Breyer’s order.
  
  

• Preliminary injunction: If the appeals court eventually lifts its stay, Judge Breyer will decide on a preliminary injunction around June 20 to provide longer-lasting relief 

• Broader stakes: The outcome may set a lasting legal precedent on presidential powers to deploy military forces within states—especially without state consent.
  
  

🧭 Why You Should Care

Concern	Why It Matters
Federalism & Governance	Reinforces state control over state military forces.
Militarization of Civil Life	Raises alarms about using troops in domestic politics.
Constitutional Limits	Tests boundaries of the Tenth Amendment and Insurrection Act.

📅 Quick Timeline

• June 6: Anti‑ICE protests erupt in Los Angeles.
  
  

• June 7: Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, federalizes CA Guard, deploys Marines.
  
  

• June 9: California files suit and seeks a restraining order.
  
  

• June 12: Judge Breyer orders Guard control returned to California.
  
  

• Late June 12: Ninth Circuit pauses that ruling — hearing set for June 17.
  
  

• June 20: Potential decision on a preliminary injunction.
  
  

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