DC Sues Trump Over National Guard Deployment Authority/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over his deployment of more than 1,000 National Guard troops in Washington. City Attorney General Brian Schwalb calls the move an “involuntary military occupation,” arguing it violates federal and local laws. The case raises fresh questions about presidential power over the capital’s security.
DC Sues Trump Over Guard Deployment Quick Looks
- Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued Trump over Guard use in Washington.
- Deployment tied to Trump’s Aug. 11 executive order.
- Over 1,000 Guard troops now on extended duty in DC.
- Schwalb: deployment equals “involuntary military occupation.”
- Lawsuit cites violation of 1973 Home Rule Act requiring mayor’s consent.
- Federal judge already ruled Trump’s LA Guard deployment illegal.
- Trump vows more interventions in Chicago and Baltimore.
- Several GOP-led states sent Guard reinforcements to DC.
- Trump claims operation reduced violent crime, including carjackings.
- Mayor Muriel Bowser disputes legality but notes crime drop.
DC Sues Trump Over National Guard Deployment Authority
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — The District of Columbia is challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to deploy National Guard troops in the nation’s capital, filing a federal lawsuit Thursday that accuses the administration of imposing an unlawful “military occupation.”
City Attorney General Brian Schwalb, the district’s elected top lawyer, argued that Trump’s deployment—initiated under an August 11 executive order—violates both federal statutes and Washington’s Home Rule Act of 1973, which limits federal intervention in local governance without the mayor’s consent.
Troop Surge Under Fire
The lawsuit notes that more than 1,000 Guard members are now patrolling Washington, with orders extended through December. While not all may serve the full term, the extensions signal that the mission is unlikely to end soon.
“Residents of the District are living under an involuntary military occupation that undermines both local authority and constitutional protections,” Schwalb said.
Trump, however, insists the deployment is necessary to fight violent crime, citing a sharp reduction in carjackings and other offenses since the operation began.
Legal Precedents and Expanding Plans
The challenge comes on the heels of a California federal judge’s ruling that Trump’s decision to send Guard troops to Los Angeles in June—following immigration raid protests—was illegal. The administration is appealing, but Trump has also signaled plans to order federal interventions in Chicago and Baltimore, cities that have voiced strong opposition.
Unlike in states, where governors control Guard units, the president has broader powers over the DC National Guard, complicating the legal fight.
Home Rule Act at the Center
Schwalb’s complaint stresses that the deployment violates the Home Rule Act, which was signed by President Richard Nixon and grants Washington limited self-governance. The act requires local consent for certain security measures, but Trump bypassed Mayor Muriel Bowser, instead asserting federal authority.
The case also raises questions about Trump’s ability to command Guard units from GOP-led states, many of which have bolstered the deployment.
Political Fallout
The lawsuit marks Schwalb’s second legal challenge to Trump’s interventions in the district, following an earlier case against federal control of the DC police department.
Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, has protested Trump’s actions but acknowledged a measurable drop in crime since the Guard arrived. “The question is not whether crime is falling, but whether the president has the authority to override the city’s leadership to achieve it,” she said.
For now, Washington remains under a federally directed security presence—an arrangement that could set a precedent for how far presidential powers extend over the capital in moments of crisis.
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