Newsom Sues Trump Over Deployment of California National Guard to Oregon

📌 Key Points

What Happened

• Governor Gavin Newsom filed a federal lawsuit on October 5, 2025, to block the Trump administration from deploying 300 California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon.
• The deployment followed a court order on October 4, 2025, which temporarily blocked Trump from federalizing and sending 200 Oregon National Guard troops due to lack of legal justification.

Legal Basis and Claims

• Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta argue the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act, the 10th Amendment, and California’s state constitution, where the governor is commander-in-chief of the Guard.
• The lawsuit seeks an emergency injunction to stop the deployment and return control of the troops to California.

Quotes and Reactions

• Gavin Newsom: “This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power. The Trump Administration is unapologetically attacking the rule of law itself.”
• White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the action as necessary to protect federal assets and accused Newsom of siding with “violent criminals.”

Context and Background

• The troops had been under federal control since June 2025, originally assigned to protests in Los Angeles.
• The Portland protests center around immigration policies, with only 25 arrests since June. A federal judge ruled these did not meet the criteria for a military response under the Insurrection Act.

Related Legal Actions

• Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also filed a parallel lawsuit against the deployment.
• A federal judge in Oregon said Trump’s claims were “untethered to the facts” and halted the Oregon Guard deployment through October 18, 2025.

Deployment Details

• The Pentagon confirmed ~200-300 troops were redirected from California to Portland starting October 5, citing a mission to support ICE and protect federal property.
• Estimated deployment cost: $5-10 million, funded by federal resources but affecting California’s Guard budget.