22 States Oppose Trump Federalization National Guard Deployment

A coalition of attorneys general, including Maryland's Anthony G. Brown, has opposed President Trump's recent actions on two fronts: the freezing of USAID foreign aid funds and the federalization of state National Guards. They argue the Trump administration's withholding of Congress-approved foreign aid funds is unlawful and harms state economies by cutting off vital funding for research and local organizations. Simultaneously, 22 states have challenged Trump's deployment of the California National Guard without the governor's consent, contending it violates constitutional principles by overstepping presidential authority and threatening civil liberties. State leaders emphasize that local law enforcement should manage protests without federal military intervention, warning against normalizing the use of military force in domestic matters. Maryland's Attorney General Brown specifically criticized the deployment as political theater that undermines states' rights and endangers protesters' safety nationwide. These legal challenges reflect broader tensions between federal and state powers during widespread protests and debates over the limits of executive authority.