California Attorney General and Governor Ask Court to Block Trump Administration's National Guard Deployment

Strategic Insights -

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom have asked a court to block the Trump Administration's order to federalize and deploy an additional 300 members of the California National Guard for 90 days, citing a lack of justification and violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. The deployment was ordered on August 5, 2025, despite the initial 60-day timeframe for the initial deployment having expired and the civil unrest that was cited as justification for the initial deployment having abated. The court has already granted an injunction permanently enjoining the Trump Administration from engaging in similar activity in the future.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump Administration ordered the National Guard to be federalized and deployed for an additional 90 days on August 5, 2025, despite the initial 60-day timeframe for the initial deployment having expired.
  • The initial federalization and deployment of National Guard troops was unjustified, and their redeployment for an additional 90 days is absurd, according to Attorney General Bonta.
  • The Trump Administration has not attempted to justify the continued deployment of National Guard troops, and has not established that there was an invasion, rebellion, or inability to execute federal law in California on August 5, 2025.
  • During their initial deployment, National Guard troops participated in low-risk federal law enforcement operations and were often called on to engage in civilian law enforcement activities, violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
  • The court has already granted an injunction permanently enjoining the Trump Administration from engaging in similar activity in the future.

Statistics:

  • 300: The number of National Guard troops that the Trump Administration ordered to be federalized and deployed for an additional 90 days.
  • 60 days: The initial timeframe for the deployment of National Guard troops, which expired without incident.
  • 75%: The percentage of immigration arrests in which federalized National Guard troops accompanied federal agents, according to a Trump Administration official.
  • 3 days: The duration of the trial in which the Attorney General's Office presented evidence of Posse Comitatus Act violations.
  • 90 days: The additional timeframe for which the Trump Administration has ordered the National Guard to be deployed.

Sources:

  • California Attorney General's Office
  • Governor Gavin Newsom's Office
  • https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/new-filing-attorney-general-bonta-and-governor-newsom-ask-court-block-renewed