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2025 deployment of federal forces in the United States
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In 2025, during US President Donald Trump's second presidency, forces of the federal government of the United States, primarily National Guard troops, have been deployed to select US cities. Trump has given multiple explanations for the deployments, saying they are officially part of crackdowns on protests, crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration. The actions targeted Democratic Party-led cities and sparked significant controversy, with critics labeling them as abuses of power and potential violations of laws like the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
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District of Columbia National Guard soldiers positioning vehicles outside Union Station in D.C. on August 15, 2025
California National Guard soldiers deployed in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025
Deployments began in Los Angeles in June 2025 and expanded to Washington, D.C. in August 2025, before presidential authorizations were issued to expand to Memphis, Tennessee, and Portland, Oregon in September 2025. Federal forces arrived in Memphis in October 2025.[1] Plans were underway for Chicago and potentially other cities like New York, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Oakland, California.[2][3][4][5] The moves came amidst broader expansions of the military's domestic use during the second Trump administration,[6] and Trump's prior comments during his presidential campaign to use the military to end protests without consent from state governors and target "the enemy within".[7][8] In September 2025, Trump told military leaders to view the deployments as "training grounds for our military" and described America as under "invasion" and waging "a war from within".[9] In October 2025, Trump authorized federal troop deployments in Chicago.[10]
On September 2, federal courts ruled that the administration had illegally sent troops into Los Angeles in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, a development described as potentially complicating Trump's threats for further military deployment.[11]
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Background
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I have the right to do anything I want to do. I'm the president of the United States. If I think our country is in danger, and it is in danger in these cities, I can do it.
— Trump's explanation of his power to send the military into American cities during a cabinet meeting on August 26, 2025.[12]
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump said he would use the military to end protests without consent from state governors, actions which his aides had talked him out of during his first term.[7] He also stated he would use the military against "the enemy within",[8] which Trump described as "radical left lunatics", Democratic politicians, and those opposed to his candidacy.[13][14]
Following his election, the Trump administration launched successive purges of top military and intelligence leadership whose views were seen as being at odds with Trump.[15] As early as February 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired multiple military lawyers, saying that "we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don't exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything".[16] Trump expanded the domestic use of the military, which former military officials and experts on civil-military relations described as an attempt to get Americans used to seeing troops in major American cities and allow Trump to more aggressively quell unrest and dissent.[6] In August, Trump signed an executive order directing the National Guard to create specialized military units to quell civil disturbances in American states to be deployed at his command.[17]
In September, Pentagon leadership unveiled a draft of the National Defense Strategy, which in a dramatic shift from prior plans, prioritized domestic and regional missions rather than combating Russia and China.[18] During a September 30 meeting with over 800 generals and admirals, Trump stated that the deployments should be used as "training grounds for our military" and described America as waging "a war from within"; saying that "America is under invasion from within" and that it was "No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms".[9]
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Deployments
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Los Angeles, California
In June 2025, Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests against immigration raids, overriding California Governor Gavin Newsom's objections.[19] On September 2, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act in its deployment of military forces, and that the rationale for deployment was contrived, writing that there "was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law".[20]
The New York Times described the federalization and deployment of the California National Guard as Trump "pushing the boundaries of presidential authority and stoking criticism that he is inflaming the situation for political gain" by portraying the events as an "existential threat to the country",[21] and embracing the rhetoric of a nation under siege with Trump saying he needed to "liberate Los Angeles" from a "migrant invasion".[22] Communications experts described the language as militaristic, hyperbolic, inflammatory, and designed to discourage dissent.[23][24]
The Economist described the response as only barely concerned with restoring order,[25] and stated its purpose was to "create confrontation" and fuel a "cycle of protest, violence and repression" to the administration's benefit.[26] Politico described Trump's response as motivated by attempting to avoid a repeat of the George Floyd protests when he was advised against deploying the military, as acting in his belief of a governing mandate by voters that fueled his 2024 election victory, and serving as a warning to other city and state leaders.[27] Internal military communications expressed concerns of "far-reaching social, political and operational" impacts of the deployment, and that use of military forces posed "extremely high" risk to civilians, troops, and the military's reputation.[28]
Washington, D.C.
Approximately 2,000 National Guard troops, including about 800 from D.C. were deployed in August 2025.[29] The administration federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days and armed the troops for patrols in tourist areas rather than high-crime zones.[30] Trump claimed this had brought "total safety" and a "miracle" reduction in crime, citing a week without murders.[31][32] Before the military intervention, crime statistics showed D.C. being in a 30-year low in crime, although there was a small spike in lethality in 2023 that since came down.[33] Over 700 arrests and 91 illegal firearms seizures were reported by August 24.[34] A poll conducted showed that nearly 80% of D.C. residents opposed the deployment.[35] Troops were mobilized from Republican-led states which had 10 cities with higher crime rates than D.C.[36]
Memphis, Tennessee
On September 12, 2025, Trump announced the deployment of National Guardsmen to Memphis, Tennessee, saying that "Memphis is deeply troubled" and that he would have preferred deploying the troops to Chicago. He did not specify when the troops would be deployed to the city.[37] As of 2025[update], crime is at a 25-year low across major categories through September according to the Memphis Police Department.[38][39] Trump did not indicate under what authority the troops would be deployed in Memphis.[40]
On September 15, 2025, Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering the deployment of federal law enforcement as part of a task force with Tennessee's National Guard.[41] Members of the Memphis municipal government, including Memphis mayor Paul Young and Memphis city council members, spoke against the planned deployment.[42][43] The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted on a pair of resolutions to either support a ninety day deployment or call on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to oppose the deployment.[44] Both resolutions were rejected by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.[45] Shelby County mayor Lee Harris was less willing to compromise than Young in his opposition to the planned deployment of federal forces to Memphis.[46]
On October 1, 2025, an increased presence of federal law enforcement was visible in Memphis. The same day, Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller told officers of the Memphis Safe Task Force that they were "unleashed". The task force incorporated at least 219 federally deputized officers at the beginning of October. Governor Lee indicated that he believed that any deployment of National Guard troops would include no more than 150 unarmed personnel who would not make arrests unless requested to do so by local authorities.[47]
Chicago
The Pentagon was planning a military deployment in Chicago, Illinois, for weeks ahead of August 2025, with reports at the time stating that thousands of National Guard troops could be mobilized as early as September 2025.[48] Trump has repeatedly singled out Chicago as "next," calling it a "mess" and claiming residents are "screaming" for federal intervention.[49] No formal request has been made to Illinois officials, and crime data shows significant declines (homicides down 30%, shootings down 40% in the past year).[50]
On September 6, Trump threatened "Apocalypse Now"-style action against Chicago, writing "I love the smell of deportations in the morning" amid an AI-generated picture of himself as Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in front of a burning Chicago skyline with helicopters and that "Chicago [is] about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR". The post was criticized by local elected leaders, with Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker writing, "The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal." Trump's threat came amidst large city-wide celebrations and parades.[51]
On September 28, Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement troops with automatic weapons and full combat gear patrolled high-visibility tourist areas in Downtown Chicago. An investigation was launched by Broadview police into an "unprovoked attack" by ICE who allegedly shot a chemical munition at a WBBM-TV Chicago news van.[52]
In early October, Trump officially authorized the National Guard to be deployed to Chicago.[10]
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Planned deployments
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Portland, Oregon
On September 27, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had ordered the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon to counter what he called "domestic terrorists" in "war-ravaged Portland".[53][54][55] Trump stated that he was authorizing the use of "full force," if necessary, in order to protect Portland-based ICE facilities.[53] On September 28, it was revealed that Oregon state leaders received a memo from Trump where he noted that he had ordered the deployment of 200 National Guard members to Portland, and that they were authorized to "perform federal functions for 60 days."[56]
Ongoing peaceful protests had been occurring around an ICE facility in the city for several months with few incidents; while at its peak in June 2025,[57] by September activity was usually limited to small crowds by night (estimated by the Portland Police Bureau to have been around 9–15 demonstrators), and booths placed by religious organizations during the daytime hours to provide spiritual support to those attending appointments at the facility.[58][59]
Portland mayor Keith Wilson suspected that Trump's decision to send troops to Portland was based on his viewing of file footage of past unrest in the city; on September 26, Fox News aired interviews with Newt Gingrich and DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin to discuss Trump's recent declaration of "Antifa" as a domestic terrorist group, both of which containing b-roll of unrest during Portland's George Floyd protests in 2020. In a phone interview with NBC News correspondent Yamiche Alcindor on September 28, Trump seemingly questioned his decision to deploy troops, stating "I spoke to the governor [Tina Kotek], she was very nice. But I said, 'Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what's happening? My people tell me different.' They are literally attacking and there are fires all over the place ... it looks like terrible."[60][61][62] Residents on social media called out the claims that Portland was "war-ravaged", with some posting photos of everyday scenes of the city to disprove and comment upon it.[63][64][65]
Other cities
President Trump has mentioned expanding to other cities, including New York City; New Orleans, Louisiana; Baltimore, Maryland; and Oakland, California, after Chicago.[66][67][68] Up to 1,700 National Guard troops are mobilizing across 19 states (e.g., Texas with the most) to support ICE on immigration enforcement, though the White House claims this is separate from the crime crackdown.[69][70] These could serve as a "reaction force" for rapid deployments.[71]
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Reception
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Political opposition
Local leaders denounced the moves. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson warns it could "inflame tensions" and undermine trust in law enforcement.[72] Pritzker calls it an "authoritarian power grab" with no emergency justification.[73] House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accuses Trump of manufacturing a crisis.[74] D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and others highlight pre-existing crime drops and argue troops lack proper training for policing.[75]
Legal issues
Deployments in D.C. leverage unique federal control over the capital, but expansions elsewhere may require invoking the Insurrection Act or declaring emergencies to federalize state National Guards, potentially bypassing governors.[76] Critics argue these are politically motivated, targeting Democratic cities for "theater and intimidation."[77]
California lawsuit
On September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act and ordered the administration not to use National Guard or military troops for civilian law enforcement in California with that prohibition to take effect on September 12. Breyer described the administration's actions and rhetoric of further domestic military deployments as an apparent attempt at "creating a national police force with the President as its chief" and described the rationale for deployment as contrived, writing that "There was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law".[20][78] He said the Trump administration, if it wished to argue, would have to "satisfy the requirements of a valid constitutional or statutory exception, as defined herein, to the Posse Comitatus Act."[78]
Illinois lawsuit
On October 4, 2025, the state of Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration against the deployment of the national guard, stating it was unlawful and asking for it to be halted.[79]
Oregon lawsuit
On October 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut—who was appointed by Trump in 2019—granted a motion for a temporary restraining order on the deployment in Portland pending further hearings, ruling that the protest activity did not constitute a "rebellion" under the Posse Comitatus Act, and that Trump had exceeded his statutory authority under Title 10 of the United States Code.[58][57][80] Immergut wrote that Trump's narrative of Portland as a "war-ravaged" city was "untethered to facts", the incidents which did occur were "nowhere near the type of incidents that cannot be handled by regular law enforcement forces", and that "this country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs. This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law." [80]
The next day, amid reports that the administration was preparing to deploy the California and Texas National Guard in an attempt to sidestep the restraining order, California governor Gavin Newsom joined Kotek in the suit and jointly requested emergency relief.[81][82][83] Judge Immergut issued an emergency ruling explicitly extending the restraining order to any National Guard deployment to Portland, regardless of origin.[84]
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