Federal court finally ends illegal federalization of National Guard after Trump gives up, Governor Newsom directs leadership to quickly send soldiers home to families
What you need to know: Trump and his cabinet cronies finally bowed to the rule of law — returning the California National Guard to state control after illegal federalization — showing he is not above the U.S. Constitution. Governor Newsom directs leadership work quickly to return state service members back home to their families.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement in response to President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth backing down in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals — and the court returning the California National Guard to state command and control and conclusively ending their deployment in an American city, against American citizens.
I’m glad President Trump has finally admitted defeat: we’ve said all along the federalization of the National Guard in California is illegal.
The President deployed these brave men and women against their own communities and without regard for the constitution and federal law. We welcome our California National Guard servicemembers back to state service, where they can continue to serve and protect the people of California — long delayed due to Trump’s political theater.
I direct California National Guard leadership to work expeditiously to return state service members home to be with their families as soon as possible following their demobilization from federal service.
Governor Gavin Newsom
This latest admission of defeat by Trump and his followers comes in the wake of a 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the State of Illinois in a similar case. Read Governor Newsom’s Supreme Court brief in that case here.
Read Judge Charles Breyer’s order earlier this month ordering the Trump Administration to end its takeover of the California National Guard here, and today’s Ninth Circuit order allowing that ruling to take effect here.