Trump's National Guard Deployment Violates States Rights, Impedes Law Enforcement’s Response to Protests
- January 6th News
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard to the LA protests violates California’s state rights
Federal troops arrived without coordinating with local police, creating confusion and actually hindering LAPD's ability to manage protests effectively
The 60-day deployment of nearly 5,000 troops and Marines will cost tax payers approximately $143 million
A Violation of State Rights
Over the weekend, Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to downtown Los Angeles to respond to protests against his immigration crackdown.
Normally, governors control their state's National Guard and deploy them for emergencies. Trump's unilateral action cuts Governor Newsom out of the loop entirely, violating California's authority over its own Guard units.
“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command,” the governor wrote in a post on X. “Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
President Trump did not rescind his order. By Monday, he had escalated further, sending 700 Marines and then another 2,000 Guard troops.
The situation in LA didn't come close to meeting the legal bar for federal takeover of National Guard units. That requires invasion by a foreign country, rebellion against federal authority, or complete breakdown of law enforcement. None of that happened — local and state cops stayed in control throughout.
Trump’s Order Ignored Local Law Enforcement & Impeded Rapid Response
The federal troops arrived with no coordination with local cops, creating a mess on the ground. Police commanders suddenly had to deal with federal forces who didn't know local procedures or command structures. Instead of helping, the disorganized deployment actually made it harder for local law enforcement to do their jobs.
Regarding the deployment of marines to Los Angeles, LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said his department had not been formally notified. In a news release Monday, he wrote, “The possible arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles absent clear coordination presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city… the Los Angeles Police Department, alongside our mutual aid partners, have decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstrations, and we remain confident in our ability to do so professionally and effectively.”
A 28-page federal court filing was issued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta asking a judge for a temporary restraining order on Tuesday in an attempt to prevent the deployment of the National Guard and active duty Marines for law enforcement purposes. The filing reads, “Federal antagonization, through the presence of soldiers in the streets, has already caused real and irreparable damage to the city of Los Angeles, the people who live there, and the State of California… they must be stopped immediately.”
The judge did not issue a restraining order, and instead granted the Trump administration’s request for 24 hours to respond, scheduling a hearing for Thursday.
Deployment will Cost Taxpayers $143 Million
The military’s deployment of almost 5,000 National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles in response to immigration protests will cost around $134 million and last 60 days.
That funding will come from the Defense Department’s operations and maintenance budget and cover travel, housing, food and other incidental expenses, Bryn MacDonnell said at a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing.
