California Army National Guard Soldiers of 1-184 Infantry stand at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, June 22, 2025. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christy L. Sherman, U.S. Army.
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | December 2025
A federal judge orders the Trump Administration to end its deployment of the California National Guard in Los Angeles and return control to Governor Gavin Newsom. The ruling comes amid a high-stakes legal and political battle over presidential authority to federalize state National Guard troops.
Governor Newsom maintains that the federal takeover is unlawful and undermines state authority. He and California Attorney General Rob Bonta argue that the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act and exceeds presidential power. In a post on X, Newsom emphasizes that control of the National Guard must remain with the governor.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer issues the order on December 10, 2025, granting Newsom’s motion for a preliminary injunction. The ruling highlights that the federal government has retained control of about 300 California Guardsmen for six months without showing that federal law enforcement is impeded. The court notes that sending California troops to other states effectively creates a national police force made up of state troops, which the judge finds legally unacceptable.
The court stops the federal government from using the California National Guard in Los Angeles and orders that the Guard be returned to Governor Newsom. The order is on hold until noon on Monday, December 15, 2025, and the plaintiffs pay a small $100 bond to make the injunction official.
The Trump Administration announces plans to appeal the decision, signaling that the legal fight is far from over. Meanwhile, the state prepares to assert its authority and ensure that California’s National Guard operates under gubernatorial control. Observers note that this case could set precedent for limits on federal power over state military forces.
The ruling is part of a broader conflict over federal versus state control of the National Guard, coming as the federal government expands militarized zones along the California-Mexico border and deploys thousands of troops for security purposes. Legal experts say the case raises ongoing questions about the constitutional limits of presidential power in domestic contexts, while the judge’s order reinforces the principle that state governors retain control of their National Guard units unless there is a clear and lawful basis for federal intervention.
Governor Newsom’s office said the ruling affirms the state’s position that the federal deployment was illegal. Newsom has vowed to continue defending California’s authority over the Guard and ensuring that state resources are not used without consent.
