Appeals court pauses decision to end National Guard deployment in DC

WASHINGTON The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a temporary hold Thursday on a lower court decision that had directed the removal of National Guard troops from Washington, D.C.

In a brief statement, the appeals court explained that the administrative stay is intended to provide time to review the motion for a stay pending appeal and does not reflect a judgment on the cases substance.

This pause, requested by the Trump administration, prevents the enforcement of U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb's November 20 ruling. Cobb had determined that the presidents deployment of the military in the district oversteps the authority of local officials who manage law enforcement.

Judge Cobb recognized that while the president has powers to safeguard federal operations and property, he cannot independently use the D.C. National Guard to control crime or summon troops from other states without proper authorization. Her order initially allowed 21 days before taking effect to accommodate the administration's appeal, but the recent stay is expected to extend beyond that period.

The White House stated that the president acted within his legal authority and expressed confidence that the issue will ultimately be resolved in his favor.

In August, President Trump declared a crime emergency in the capital, leading to the deployment of over 2,300 National Guard members from multiple states and the district itself, alongside hundreds of federal agents assisting with patrols.

The deployment was challenged in court by the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who sought to prevent the White House from sending Guard troops without the mayors approval while the lawsuit proceeds. The Attorney Generals office has not commented on the latest stay.

The administration has also stationed Guard forces in other cities, including Los Angeles, and attempted deployments in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, prompting additional legal disputes. Courts have allowed some deployments, while others remain under appeal.

The courts action comes shortly after two West Virginia National Guard members were ambushed while patrolling near the White House, resulting in one fatality and another in critical recovery. An Afghan national involved in the incident faces murder charges and has pleaded not guilty. Following the shooting, the administration requested reinforcement with an additional 500 National Guard personnel, and Arkansas contributed 100 troops to the deployment.

Author: Lucas Grant