A federal appeals court on Wednesday allowed the National Guard deployment ordered by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., to remain in place while a legal challenge proceeds, temporarily blocking a lower-court ruling that would have required the troops to withdraw.
The decision keeps more than 2,000 Guard members on duty in the capital as the case moves forward.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously granted an administrative stay of an order issued by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, who had ruled that the deployment improperly interfered with local authority and ordered the Guard to leave the city.
Cobb delayed the enforcement of her ruling to allow the federal government time to appeal. The appeals court’s action extends that pause, maintaining the status quo while judges consider the merits of the case.
In granting the stay, the appellate panel said the Trump administration appears likely to succeed on its central legal argument: that Washington’s status as a federal district gives the president broader authority over the National Guard than in a sovereign state.
Unlike state National Guards, which are typically under the control of governors, the D.C. National Guard ultimately answers to the president. The court said that distinction weighs in favor of the federal government as the litigation continues.
Cobb’s ruling concluded that the deployment unlawfully encroached on the authority of local officials. District leaders have argued that the president overstepped by using the Guard in ways they say resemble routine law enforcement rather than emergency support.
The appeals court did not resolve that issue, focusing instead on whether the Guard should remain deployed while the legal questions are litigated.
The Guard presence began in August, when Trump declared a crime emergency in the District and ordered Guard members from D.C. and several states to assist federal operations.
The move drew immediate criticism from city officials and civil liberties groups, who challenged the deployment in court. Supporters argued it was necessary to address public safety concerns in the nation’s capital.
Wednesday’s decision does not resolve the underlying legal dispute, including whether Guard members engaged in law enforcement activity in violation of federal law. It allows the deployment to remain in place while the appeals process continues.
Absent further court action, the stay could keep Guard members in Washington into 2026 as the case proceeds.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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What the H##l is wrong with these left wing judges???