A federal judge has intervened to stop the continued use of National Guard forces in Los Angeles by federal authorities. The ruling, issued Wednesday, mandates that command of the troops be immediately returned to California’s state government.
The legal challenge centers on the federal government’s authority to retain control over state guard personnel deployed to the city months earlier. The dispute stems from a decision last June to federalize approximately 4,000 members of the California National Guard. That mobilization was ordered in response to civil demonstrations, drawing immediate condemnation from state leadership, which labeled the action as an overreach and without legal precedent.
The case has been under judicial review for several months, with the state arguing that the prolonged federal command lacked proper justification. The court’s latest order represents a significant development in the ongoing conflict between state and federal powers over the use of domestic military assets.