D.C. Files Suit To End Trump’s National Guard Deployment
Washington, D.C., has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration, accusing it of illegal federal overreach after the president deployed the National Guard to restore order in the crime-ridden capital.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, a Democrat, claimed in the suit that the deployment was “unnecessary,” “unwanted,” and a violation of the city’s autonomy under the Home Rule Act. “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,” Schwalb said. “It’s D.C. today, but could be any other city tomorrow.”
President Trump, however, defended his August 11 deployment, saying it was critical to “reestablish law, order, and public safety” in a city that had become plagued by violent crime and lawlessness. The White House called the lawsuit “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.”
According to administration officials, the National Guard deployment, coupled with federal law enforcement support, has resulted in over 1,000 arrests in the city — including suspected illegal immigrants. Authorities have also seized more than 100 firearms and cleared nearly 50 homeless encampments, a growing safety concern in recent months.
Trump declared D.C. “a totally safe city” this week, boasting that crime was not just down — it was eliminated. “They said crime is down 87%, then I said ‘no it’s not. It’s down 100%,’” he told reporters.
Official crime data backs up parts of the president’s claim. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime in the capital has dropped 39% compared to the same time last year, with homicides down 58% and burglaries down 49%. Trump has previously questioned the reliability of D.C.’s crime data, pointing to allegations that city officials manipulated the numbers.
The lawsuit closely mirrors a recent California case where a federal judge ruled that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles during anti-ICE riots in June violated the law. Judge Charles Breyer, the brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, barred the use of 300 remaining National Guard troops in any law enforcement capacity unless the administration meets specific constitutional or statutory exceptions.
D.C.’s suit similarly accuses Trump of violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement. Despite mounting legal challenges, Trump is reportedly considering expanding National Guard operations to other high-crime cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and New Orleans.
The president maintains that his efforts are about protecting Americans. “If Democrat leaders can’t control their cities, I will,” Trump said earlier this month. “We will not let our great cities fall to chaos.”