Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Use of Troops in DC

WASHINGTON – A federal judge on Nov. 20, 2025, temporarily halted U.S. President Donald Trump‘s plan to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. This ruling represents a significant legal challenge to Trump’s attempts to send military support to American cities over objections from local leaders.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, appointed by former President Joe Biden, blocked the Trump administration from enforcing law with National Guard troops without the mayor’s approval. The judge’s ruling is set to be paused until Dec. 11, allowing the administration to appeal the decision.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated that Trump acted lawfully, contending that the lawsuit aims to undermine his efforts to reduce violent crime. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb argued that permitting Trump’s use of troops would pose a dangerous precedent. Schwalb filed the lawsuit on Sept. 4, accusing Trump of violating laws that prohibit military involvement in domestic policing.

While Trump holds unique law enforcement powers in Washington, local officials argue he overstepped by overriding the mayor’s authority. Lawyers for the Trump administration labeled the lawsuit a political stunt. They maintained that deploying troops is within the President’s rights and a necessary strategy for crime control.

In addition to Washington, Trump has proposed troop deployments in other U.S. cities to combat what he described as lawlessness. However, Democratic leaders in these areas have condemned these actions as politically motivated intimidation, leading to legal disputes across the country.

Recent trial court rulings have generally sided against troop deployments where local officials expressed opposition; however, an appeals court recently allowed troops to remain in Los Angeles.