A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump‘s use of the National Guard and other members of the military in Los Angeles and the surrounding area.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration was in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the use of the military to execute domestic law.
The judge wrote, “The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles. In short, Defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act.”
The judge noted that 300 members of the National Guard still remain in Los Angeles, while Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have “stated their intention” to call troops to other cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, “thus creating a national police force with the President as its chief.”
The judge granted an injunction to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state.
