A U.S. appeals court has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump, allowing the National Guard to remain deployed in Washington, D.C., while legal challenges continue. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit lifted a lower court injunction that would have required the Guard to withdraw by December 11, enabling the operation to continue for now.
The deployment began on August 11, when Trump ordered National Guard troops into the capital in response to rising violent crime. Since then, more than 2,000 Guard members have been stationed in the city, alongside federal agents from agencies such as the FBI, ATF, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The legal dispute stems from a lawsuit filed by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who argued the deployment violated the city’s Home Rule Act. Earlier, U.S. District Judge Jia Michelle Cobb ruled that the use of Guard troops for non-military law enforcement purposes was unconstitutional, though she allowed a temporary 21-day stay to permit an appeal.
The issue gained further attention after two National Guard members were shot near the White House on November 26. One of the victims later died, leading to upgraded charges against the suspect, including first-degree murder.
The Trump administration has defended the deployment, stating it is necessary to protect federal assets and assist local law enforcement. Meanwhile, courts in other cities have blocked similar deployments, highlighting ongoing legal debates over federal authority and local control.
