California, Oregon suing Trump in bid to stop troop deployment to Portland
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Los Angeles in September. Photo: Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Image
California and Oregon are suing the Trump administration in an effort to stop him sending 200 National Guard troops from the Golden State to Portland, per an amended lawsuit filed Sunday.
The big picture: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vowed to sue Sunday after he said he'd learned the administration was sending hundreds of federalized personnel from the California National Guard to Portland, the latest Democrat-run city President Trump has targeted.
- The action came one day after a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, which the Trump administration is appealing.
Driving the news: "Despite that unequivocal ruling ... 100 federalized service members of the California National Guard were deployed to Oregon," said Dan Rayfield, the Beaver State's attorney general in a statement posted to Bluesky announcing the amended lawsuit that noted 100 others were "preparing to follow."
- The Trump administration's actions "are a direct attempt to circumvent the court's order," Rayfield said.
- "Not only does Portland not need this interference, but the President is abusing his authority over the California National Guard, because he committed to use their capacity to keep California safe."
The other side: "At the direction of the President, approximately 200 federalized members of the California National Guard are being reassigned from duty in the greater Los Angeles area to Portland, Oregon," said chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell in an emailed statement Sunday, after Newsom threatened to sue over the deployment.
- They will "support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement" (ICE) "and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property," he said.
- Trump told reporters earlier on Sunday that troop deployments were needed because "Portland is burning to the ground," a claim local officials reject.
What we're watching: The amended complaint that includes California, and names as defendants Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the DHS, is seeking a new temporary restraining order to block the deployment of California National Guard members to Oregon.
- The states hope to have a hearing "as soon as possible" and intend to "ask the court to stop the government's illegal deployment of the California National Guard here in Oregon," per Rayfield's statement.
Meanwhile, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) said in an emailed statement Sunday evening she's been "notified that the Department of War has ordered the Texas Adjutant General to deploy 400 Texas National Guard members to 'Illinois, Oregon, and other locations throughout the United States."
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a similar statement about Texas troops being sent to his state, where Trump had sent 300 National Guard members to Chicago.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said on X he had "authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials."
- Representatives for the White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.Representatives for the DHS referred Axios to the Pentagon for comment.
Go deeper: Trump says military should use U.S. cities as "training grounds"
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
