President Donald Trump authorized the Secretary of Defense to federalize 200 members of the Oregon National Guard for 60 days to protect federal property, citing potential protests. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield condemned the move as an abuse of power, arguing that the President lacks the authority to federalize the guard under Title 10 of the United States Code, as no invasion or rebellion exists. The state swiftly filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to block the deployment, as the situation in Portland is being managed by local police, and the state officials believe the federalization is unnecessary and unlawful. This action mirrors a similar situation in California, and Oregon officials express concerns over the lack of details about the deployment plans and the President’s view of the state’s condition.
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The Trump administration further federalized approximately 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, bringing the total to 4,100, under Title 10 authority, citing the need to protect federal assets. These troops, from the 49th Military Police Brigade, will not engage in civilian law enforcement. This action follows a court challenge by Governor Newsom, who argues the deployment is unnecessary political theater, diverting troops from other critical duties. A federal appeals court temporarily blocked a lower court order returning control of the troops to the state.
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Gavin Newsom’s assessment of Donald Trump as “unhinged” and exhibiting the speech patterns of an “authoritarian” reflects a growing concern about the former president’s actions and rhetoric. The deployment of the National Guard or military without a governor’s consent is a highly unusual and controversial action, especially when invoked under Title 10, a legally ambiguous provision that circumvents the Insurrection Act.
This unprecedented move raises serious questions about the potential for abuse of power. The claim that protestors constitute a “rebellion” against the United States government, justifying the deployment of troops, seems a drastic overreach, especially considering the vast majority of protests are peaceful exercises of free speech.… Continue reading
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its unauthorized deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles. The lawsuit will challenge the federal government’s action as illegal, unconstitutional, and lacking necessary coordination with the state. Newsom argues that the federal government’s actions violated established protocol and were further exacerbated by false statements from the Trump administration regarding the National Guard’s deployment. The governor emphasized his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement but condemned the administration’s disregard for proper procedure.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood