The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has granted the state of California’s request for expedited discovery in its lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s deployment of federalized National Guard troops and Marines in Los Angeles. The court also denied a federal government request to transfer the case to the Central District of California.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta responded to the court’s decision, stating, “President Trump continues to needlessly – and unlawfully – pull California National Guard servicemembers off of counterdrug taskforces and wildfire crews for the singular purpose of furthering his political agenda.” He emphasized that President Trump’s actions make communities less safe and highlighted the importance of understanding troop orders and deployments in Los Angeles. “We will not let the President’s unprecedented overreach of executive authority go unchecked,” Bonta added.
The case revolves around potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement activities. The state’s lawsuit targets former President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing them of unlawfully federalizing California National Guard members.
A copy of the court’s order is available for public access.
