Appeals Court Weighs Trump’s National Guard Authority

A three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether President Trump had the authority to federalize the California National Guard for deployment in Los Angeles, despite Governor Gavin Newsom's objections. The Trump administration argues that 10 U.S. Code § 12406 grants the president broad powers to deploy National Guard troops in cases of rebellion or obstruction of federal law enforcement, and that these executive decisions should not be subject to judicial review. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer earlier ruled that Trump's deployment exceeded his authority and violated the Tenth Amendment, ordering the Guard's control returned to Newsom, but this order was temporarily stayed by the appellate court. California officials argue the unrest did not meet the federal intervention threshold and claim Trump's action worsened the situation. The appellate panel, composed of two Trump appointees and one Biden appointee, has not yet issued a ruling. The case could set a significant precedent for federal and state powers during civil unrest.