Trump admin pulls National Guard units from Democratic‑led cities, including LA and Chicago

WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration has pulled National Guard troops out of several Democratic-led cities following a series of court rulings that undercut the president’s authority to deploy them.

The withdrawals were completed last month with little public fanfare. There was no formal announcement from the White House or the Pentagon. Instead, US Northern Command quietly noted that Guard members assigned to Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles had finished their “demobilizing activities.”

At the height of the deployments, more than 5,000 troops were stationed in California, about 500 in Chicago and roughly 200 in Oregon.

Pentagon officials said that the forces were sent home by January 21. The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated the overall cost of the mission at nearly $500 million.

Courts reject effort to federalize guard units

President Trump began sending National Guard troops into Democratic-run cities last year, arguing that the deployments were necessary to combat violent crime.

State and local officials quickly challenged the move in court. One federal judge rebuked the effort, warning that it resembled an attempt to create a national police force directed by the president.

In December, the Supreme Court blocked the administration from deploying troops into Chicago, marking a major legal defeat. The justices appeared unconvinced by arguments that protests tied to immigration enforcement justified federal military control over state Guard units.

Trump had invoked 'Title 10' authority to federalize National Guard forces, placing them under presidential command despite objections from Democratic governors.

However, troops operating under that authority were prohibited from carrying out traditional law enforcement duties such as arrests and searches.

Washington deployment continues under separate mission

While operations in Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles have ended, more than 2,500 Guard members remain stationed in Washington, DC, under a separate agreement expected to conclude later this year.

Originally deployed to help address crime concerns, Guard members in the capital were frequently assigned support roles, including sanitation work and patrols around federal landmarks and transit stations.

The Washington mission faced tragedy in November when two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House.

 Air Force Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe survived but remains in rehabilitation after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Army Spc Sarah Beckstrom died the following day.

Planned Minneapolis deployment fails to materialize

In January, the Pentagon directed approximately 1,500 active-duty troops to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis amid protests over immigration raids. That deployment never ultimately took place.

After the fatal shootings of demonstrators Renee Good and Alex Pretti, the administration withdrew Border Patrol “Commander-at-Large” Greg Bovino, along with roughly 700 federal officers operating in the area.

Throughout the legal and political battle, Democratic officials and civil rights groups argued that the president was testing constitutional limits by inserting military forces into volatile domestic situations.

Supporters of the administration maintained that the deployments were necessary to restore order.