Washington, D.C., Sues Trump Administration Over National Guard Deployment

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to the nation’s capital as part of a federal crackdown on crime.

The lawsuit, brought by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, argues that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by deploying nearly 2,300 National Guard troops, calling the move an unconstitutional “involuntary military occupation.” Schwalb also contends that the deployment violated the city’s autonomy under the Home Rule Act, which grants limited self-governance to the District.

“Deploying the National Guard to engage in law enforcement is not only unnecessary and unwanted, but it is also dangerous and harmful to the District and its residents,” Schwalb said in a statement. “No American city should have the U.S. military — particularly out-of-state military who are not accountable to the residents and untrained in local law enforcement — policing its streets. It’s D.C. today, but could be any other city tomorrow.”

The federal takeover, which began last month, gave Trump direct control of the Metropolitan Police Department and brought in National Guard troops from other states. Federal forces have since been seen carrying weapons throughout the city. Although Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser has cooperated with the federal effort, Schwalb has opposed it vigorously.

The White House defended the move, saying it was necessary to safeguard D.C. residents amid persistent violent crime. “This lawsuit is nothing more than another attempt, at the detriment of D.C. residents and visitors, to undermine the President’s highly successful operations to stop violent crime in D.C.,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said. Officials emphasized that the Guard’s role was primarily to protect federal property and serve as a deterrent, not to directly police city streets.

The case comes as a similar legal battle plays out in California, where U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer — a Clinton appointee — ruled that Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard to quell unrest in Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act. The Trump administration has vowed to appeal that ruling.

According to The Washington Post, the administration is also expected to extend the D.C. National Guard deployment through December.

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