Appeals court supports Trump's decision to deploy National Guard in Washington

A U.S. appeals court has temporarily suspended a lower court ruling that would have required National Guard troops to leave Washington, D.C., allowing President Donald Trump to maintain a controversial deployment in the city. The decision represents a legal win for Trump, who has faced challenges over the scope of his authority to deploy troops in the nation's capital.

On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a written order lifting the injunction that had set a December 11 deadline for the troops withdrawal. The appellate ruling is temporary and does not resolve the legal arguments regarding the president's powers.

The deployment, initiated by Trump this summer, was intensified following a November 26 shooting in which two National Guard members were injured near the White House. The DC Circuits order allows the president to continue the operation despite ongoing legal challenges.

The case originates from a lawsuit filed by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who contended that Trump overstepped legal boundaries by assuming control over local policing and violating laws that prevent federal troops from performing civilian law enforcement duties. Schwalbs office did not immediately comment on the appellate ruling, nor did representatives from the White House.

Since the initial deployment in August, more than 2,000 National Guard soldiers have been stationed in Washington. Units from Alabama, Georgia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia have been involved. The troops presence is part of Trumps broader efforts addressing crime and immigration in cities led by Democratic officials.

Following the November shooting, Trump ordered an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington, describing the attack on the soldiers as targeted. One of the wounded members has since died. A 29-year-old Afghan national has been charged in connection with the shooting, which prompted the president to intensify his stance on migration restrictions.

Legal Dispute Over Policing Authority

Schwalb filed the lawsuit on September 4, asserting that Trump had unlawfully assumed control over the citys police operations. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb initially ruled the troop deployment likely illegal, giving the administration three weeks to appeal or begin a withdrawal of forces. Instead of reducing the troop presence, Trump expanded the deployment.

The Trump administration has argued in court that the lawsuit is politically motivated and maintains that the president has the right to station troops in Washington without local approval. The administration has also pursued similar deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, sparking lawsuits from local and state officials who claim the deployments are intended to intimidate political opponents.

Lower courts in multiple cities have blocked these troop deployments, and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling soon that could influence the legality of using National Guard forces in urban areas across the country.

Author: Gavin Porter