2025 deployment of federal forces in the United States

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DC National Guard Leaders Deputized for DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force (9260118).jpg
District of Columbia National Guard soldiers positioning vehicles outside Union Station in D.C. on August 15, 2025
Los Angeles riots - June 2025 - 20250613.jpg
California National Guard soldiers deployed in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025

In 2025, under President Donald Trump's second presidency, federal government forces, primarily National Guard troops, were deployed to select US cities. Trump has given multiple explanations for the deployments, saying they are officially part of crackdowns on protests, crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration. The actions targeted Democratic Party-led cities and sparked significant controversy, with critics labeling them as abuses of power and potential violations of laws like the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Contents

Deployments began in Los Angeles in June 2025 and expanded to Washington, D.C. in August 2025, before a presidential authorization was issued to expand to Memphis, Tennessee in September 2025; plans were underway for Chicago, Illinois and potentially other cities like New York, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Oakland. [1] [2] [3] [4] The moves came amidst broader expansions of the military's domestic use during the second Trump administration, [5] and Trump's prior comments during his presidential campaign to use the military to end protests without consent from state governors and target "the enemy within". [6] [7]

On September 2, federal courts ruled that the administration had illegally sent troops into Los Angeles in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, a development described as potentially complicating Trump's threats for further military deployment. [8]

Background

I have the right to do anything I want to do. I'm the president of the United States. If I think our country is in danger, and it is in danger in these cities, I can do it.

— Trump's explanation of his power to send the military into American cities during a cabinet meeting on August 26, 2025. [9]

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump said he would use the military to end protests without consent from state governors, actions which his aides had talked him out of during his first term. [6] He also stated he would use the military against "the enemy within", [7] which Trump described as "radical left lunatics", Democratic politicians, and those opposed to his candidacy. [10] [11]

Following his election, the Trump administration launched successive purges of top military and intelligence leadership whose views were seen as being at odds with Trump. [12] As early as February 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired multiple military lawyers, saying that "we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don't exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything". [13] Trump expanded the domestic use of the military, which former military officials and experts on civil-military relations described as an attempt to get Americans used to seeing troops in major American cities and allow Trump to more aggressively quell unrest and dissent. [5] In August, Trump signed an executive order directing the National Guard to create specialized military units to quell civil disturbances in American states to be deployed at his command. [14] In September, Pentagon leadership unveiled a draft of the National Defense Strategy which prioritized domestic and regional missions rather than combating Russia and China in a dramatic shift from prior plans. [15]

Deployments

Los Angeles, California

Hollywood and Vermont protest Hollywood and Vermont protest getting started 2, Hollywood,, Los Angeles, California, USA.jpg
Hollywood and Vermont protest

In June 2025, Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests against immigration raids, overriding California Governor Gavin Newsom's objections. [16] On September 2, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act in its deployment of military forces, and that the rationale for deployment was contrived, writing that "was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law". [17]

The New York Times described the federalization and deployment of the California National Guard as Trump "pushing the boundaries of presidential authority and stoking criticism that he is inflaming the situation for political gain" by portraying the events as an "existential threat to the country", [18] and embracing the rhetoric of a nation under siege with Trump saying he needed to "liberate Los Angeles" from a "migrant invasion". [19] Communications experts described the language as militaristic, hyperbolic, inflammatory, and designed to discourage dissent. [20] [21]

The Economist described the response as only barely concerned with restoring order, [22] and stated its purpose was to "create confrontation" and fuel a "cycle of protest, violence and repression" to the administration's benefit. [23] Politico described Trump's response as motivated by attempting to avoid a repeat of the George Floyd protests when he was advised against deploying the military, as acting in his belief of a governing mandate by voters that fueled his 2024 election victory, and serving as a warning to other city and state leaders. [24] Internal military communications expressed concerns of "far-reaching social, political and operational" impacts of the deployment, and that use of military forces posed "extremely high" risk to civilians, troops, and the military's reputation. [25]

Washington D.C.

Approximately 2,000 National Guard troops, including about 800 from D.C. were deployed in August 2025. [26] The administration federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days and armed the troops for patrols in tourist areas rather than high-crime zones. [27] Trump claimed this had brought "total safety" and a "miracle" reduction in crime, citing a week without murders. [28] [29] Before the military intervention, crime statistics showed D.C. being in a 30-year low in crime, although there was a small spike in lethality in 2023 that since came down. [30] Over 700 arrests and 91 illegal firearms seizures were reported by August 24. [31] A poll conducted showed that nearly 80% of D.C. residents opposed the deployment. [32] Troops were mobilized from Republican-led states which had 10 cities with higher crime rates than D.C. [33]

Planned deployments

Chicago

The Pentagon has been planning a military deployment for weeks ahead of August 2025, potentially mobilizing thousands of National Guard troops as early as September 2025. [34] Trump has repeatedly singled out Chicago as "next," calling it a "mess" and claiming residents are "screaming" for federal intervention. [35] No formal request has been made to Illinois officials, and crime data shows significant declines (homicides down 30%, shootings down 40% in the past year). [36]

On September 6, Trump threatened " Apocalypse Now "-style action against Chicago, writing "I love the smell of deportations in the morning" amid an AI-generated picture of himself as Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in front of a burning Chicago skyline with helicopters and that "Chicago [is] about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR". The post was criticized by local elected leaders, with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker writing, "The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal." Trump's threat came amidst large city-wide celebrations and parades. [37]

Memphis, Tennessee

On September 12, 2025, Trump announced the deployment of National Guardsmen to Memphis, Tennessee, saying that "Memphis is deeply troubled" and that he would have preferred deploying the troops to Chicago. He did not specify when the troops would be deployed to the city. [38] As of 2025, FBI statistics indicate that Memphis has among the highest rates of violent crimes among US cities. Trump did not indicate under what authority the troops would be deployed in Memphis. [39]

On September 15, 2025, Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering the deployment of federal law enforcement as part of a task force with Tennessee's National Guard. [40] Members of the Memphis municipal government, including Memphis mayor Paul Young and Memphis city council members, spoke against the planned deployment. [41] [42] The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted on a pair of resolutions to either support a ninety day deployment or call on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to oppose the deployment. [43] Both resolutions were rejected by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. [44] Shelby County mayor Lee Harris was less willing to compromise than Young in his opposition to the planned deployment of federal forces to Memphis. [45]

Other cities

President Trump has mentioned expanding to New York City, New Orleans, Louisiana, Baltimore, Maryland, and Oakland, California, after Chicago. [46] [47] [48] Up to 1,700 National Guard troops are mobilizing across 19 states (e.g., Texas with the most) to support ICE on immigration enforcement, though the White House claims this is separate from the crime crackdown. [49] [50] These could serve as a "reaction force" for rapid deployments. [51]

Opposition

Local leaders denounced the moves. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson warns it could "inflame tensions" and undermine trust in law enforcement. [52] Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls it an "authoritarian power grab" with no emergency justification. [53] House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accuses Trump of manufacturing a crisis. [54] D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and others highlight pre-existing crime drops and argue troops lack proper training for policing. [55]

Deployments in D.C. leverage unique federal control over the capital, but expansions elsewhere may require invoking the Insurrection Act or declaring emergencies to federalize state National Guards, potentially bypassing governors. [56] Critics argue these are politically motivated, targeting Democratic cities for "theater and intimidation." [57]

On September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act and ordered the administration not to use National Guard or military troops for civilian law enforcement in California with that prohibition to take effect on September 12. Breyer described the administration's actions and rhetoric of further domestic military deployments as an apparent attempt at "creating a national police force with the President as its chief" and described the rationale for deployment as contrived, writing that "There was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law". [17] [58] He said the Trump administration, if it wished to argue, would have to "satisfy the requirements of a valid constitutional or statutory exception, as defined herein, to the Posse Comitatus Act." [59]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Seldon, Aja (2025-08-22). "Trump threatens to send National Guard to San Francisco". KTVU FOX 2. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  2. ↑ Hernandez, Joe (2025-08-24). "Illinois officials blast Trump's threat to deploy National Guard in Chicago". NPR. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  3. ↑ "Trump threatens to send federal troops into Chicago and New York City". MSNBC.com. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  4. ↑ "Trump threatens to send the military to Baltimore to 'clean up' crime". NBC News. 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  5. 1 2 Broadwater, Luke (June 11, 2025). "Suggesting More Troops in More Cities, Trump Bends Military's Role" . The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Savage, Charlie (2025-06-08). "Key Legal Questions in Trump's Order of National Guard to LA Protests". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  7. 1 2 Pilkington, Ed (June 9, 2025). "Trump LA protest response risks turning US military into political force, veterans warn" . The Guardian . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ Savage, Charlie (September 2, 2025). "L.A. Ruling Complicates Trump's Threats to Send Troops to More Cities" . The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ Bennett, John T. (August 27, 2025). "The US system always had loopholes. Trump 2.0 exploits what others resisted" . Roll Call. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ Stracqualursi, Veronica (October 14, 2024). "Trump suggests using military against 'enemy from within' on Election Day". CNN.
  11. ↑ Lerer, Lisa; Gold, Michael (October 15, 2024). "Trump Escalates Threats to Political Opponents He Deems the 'Enemy'". The New York Times.
  12. ↑ Ali, Idrees; Landay, Jonathan (August 22, 2025). "In latest purge, Hegseth removes head of Pentagon intelligence agency, other senior officials". Reuters. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  13. ↑ Fortinsky, Sarah (February 24, 2025). "Hegseth: Fired military lawyers were potential 'roadblocks' to Trump orders" . The Hill. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  14. ↑ Ismay, John; Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric (August 25, 2025). "Trump Orders Major Expansion of National Guard's Role in Law Enforcement" . The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ McLeary, Paul; Lippman, Daniel (September 5, 2025). "Pentagon plan prioritizes homeland over China threat". Politico. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ Zinshteyn, Mikhail (2025-08-11). "5 things to know as Newsom and Trump go back to court over the National Guard in LA". CalMatters. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  17. 1 2 Cheney, Kyle; Gerstein, Josh (September 2, 2025). "Judge rules Trump can't act as national police chief". Politico. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ Pager, Tyler (June 8, 2025). "Trump Jumps at the Chance for a Confrontation in California Over Immigration" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 9, 2025. They have shared images and videos of the most violent episodes — focusing particularly on examples of protesters lashing out at federal agents — even as many remained peaceful.
  19. ↑ Liptak, Alan (June 10, 2025). "Trump Declares Dubious Emergencies to Amass Power, Scholars Say" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ Collinson, Stephen (June 11, 2025). "Trump is hyping a case to use American troops on domestic soil". CNN . Retrieved June 12, 2025. This is more than typical Trumpian hyperbole. There's a long tradition of autocratic-style leaders creating or exaggerating public-order incidents to justify the use of the military.
  21. ↑ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Aleaziz, Hamed; Lajka, Arijeta (June 12, 2025). "Trump's Immigration P.R. Campaign Enters a New Militarized Phase" . The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2025. Now, a visual communications strategy meant to encourage immigrants without legal status to leave the United States has melded into a militarized pressure campaign that also appears devised to discourage dissent, experts said.
  22. ↑ "Sending the National Guard to LA is not about stopping rioting" . The Economist . June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  23. ↑ "What's happening in LA could be a template for the Trump administration" . The Economist . June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025. the cycle of protest, violence and repression often benefits the political right, even when the unrest is fanned by the government itself. In Los Angeles neither the local police department, nor the mayor or the governor thought the presence of the National Guard would help restore order. But to point that out is to misunderstand why Mr Trump ordered troops in. That was to create confrontation.
  24. ↑ Ward, Myah (June 10, 2025). "George Floyd unrest informs Trump's response to Los Angeles protests". Politico . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  25. ↑ Hals, Tom (August 29, 2025). "Exclusive: Military feared mistakes in LA deployment could have 'far-reaching' implications, records show". Reuters. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Trump mobilizing up to 1,700 National Guard troops in 19 states in crime crackdown". The Independent. 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  27. ↑ Reid, Tim (2025-08-24). "Trump crime crackdown deploys troops in Washington's safest sites". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  28. ↑ S, Pangambam (2025-08-22). "Transcript: President Trump Remarks on FIFA World Cup, Putin, DC Crime". The Singju Post. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  29. ↑ Dale, Daniel (2025-08-12). "Fact check: Violent crime in DC has fallen in 2024 and 2025 after a 2023 spike | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  30. ↑ Kim, Julianna (August 19, 2025). "D.C.'s crime numbers are all the buzz. But how do we interpret them accurately?". NPR News. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  31. ↑ "719 arrests, 91 illegal guns seized in DC since beginning of Trump's federal takeover: Bondi". Yahoo News. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  32. ↑ Edwards-Levy, Ariel (2025-08-20). "DC residents feel less safe after Trump takeover: poll | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  33. ↑ Cohen, Marshall (August 22, 2025). "GOP governors are sending troops to DC. Their states have 10 cities with higher crime rates" . CNN.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ↑ "Pentagon reportedly planning military deployment in Chicago; Pritzker accuses Trump of "attempting to manufacture a crisis" - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  35. ↑ "'Stay out of our city': Chicago officials react to Trump's plan to target city next in crackdown". Los Angeles Times. 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  36. ↑ "Gov. Pritzker says state of Illinois is seeing major drop in violent crime alongside Chicago - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  37. ↑ Kim, Juliana; Wise, Alana; Lonsdorf, Kat (September 6, 2025). "Trump threatens 'Apocalypse Now'-style action against Chicago to boost deportations". NPR News. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  38. ↑ Faguy, Ava (September 12, 2025). "Memphis next US city to see National Guard troops, Trump says". bbc.com. BBC . Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  39. ↑ Renshaw, Jarrett; Sullivan, Andy (September 12, 2025). "US to deploy National Guard to Memphis, Trump says". reuters.com. Reuters . Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  40. ↑ Wilson, Kathryn (September 15, 2025). "Trump signs memo sending federal law enforcement to join Tennessee National Guard in Memphis". CBS News. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Memphis mayor is 'not happy' about Trump saying he'll deploy National Guard to his city". CNN. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  42. ↑ Gallant, Jacob; Redmond, Michaela (September 18, 2025). "'We say no:' Memphis City Council introduces resolution to stop National Guard, Republicans fire back". Action New 5 Memphis. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  43. ↑ O'Connor, Shelia (September 22, 2025). "Shelby County Commissioners to discuss National Guard's arrival in Memphis". Fox 13 Memphis. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Shelby County Commission rejects resolutions over National Guard". Fox 13 Memphis. September 23, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  45. ↑ Muckerman, Brooke (September 22, 2025). "How National Guard responses from the Shelby County and Memphis mayors compare". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  46. ↑ Katz, Eric (2025-08-22). "Federal law enforcement deployments are coming to other cities, Trump says". Government Executive. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  47. ↑ "President Trump's Recent Actions in Washington, D.C., Are an Abuse of Power and Threaten Public Safety for All". Center for American Progress. 2025-08-18. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  48. ↑ "Trump says he may send National Guard to Chicago, New York". POLITICO. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  49. ↑ Williams, Austin (2025-08-23). "Up to 1,700 National Guard troops mobilizing across 19 states in immigration crackdown". FOX Local. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  50. ↑ Michael Dorgan, Jacqui Heinrich (2025-08-23). "National Guard rollout in 19 states not linked to Trump's crime crackdown, WH says". Fox News. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  51. ↑ "Pentagon plan would create military 'reaction force' for civil unrest". The Washington Post. 2025-08-12. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  52. ↑ Koch, Alexandra (2025-08-22). "Chicago mayor calls Trump's National Guard deployment plan 'uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound'". Fox News. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  53. ↑ "Johnson and Pritzker call Trump's threat to send National Guard to Chicago illegal - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  54. ↑ Luscombe, Richard (2025-08-24). "Trump 'manufactured crisis' to justify plan to send national guard to Chicago, leading Democrat says". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  55. ↑ Gelman, Scott (2025-08-22). "DC mayor responds to criticism that city crime data is inaccurate". WTOP News. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  56. ↑ "Explainer: Can Trump send the National Guard to cities around the US?". Reuters. 2025-08-20. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  57. ↑ Brownstein, Ronald (2025-08-17). "Analysis: The common thread in Trump's latest moves: squeezing big blue cities | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  58. ↑ Breyer, Charles (September 2, 2025). "Newsom v. Trump (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California)" (PDF). storage.courtlistener.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  59. ↑ Breyer, Charles (September 2, 2025). "Newsom v. Trump (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California)" (PDF). storage.courtlistener.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
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