The deployment follows a June 7 memorandum in which Trump invoked 10 USC § 12406 to authorize the temporary federalization of National Guard units. The stated purpose is to protect federal personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and enforce federal law amid ongoing protests.
According to the order, the Department of Defense was directed to coordinate with state governors in identifying and activating Guard units.
However, California officials say no such coordination occurred.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Newsom’s office argued that the federal order did not follow required legal channels, stating it was not issued “through the governor of the state,” as outlined in the statute.
The memorandum from the Adjutant General of California indicated that the deployment would be effective immediately for a period of 60 days. Newsom’s legal office called the move a breach of state sovereignty and said the directive was “unlawful.”
The letter also claimed that local law enforcement in Los Angeles had effectively managed the situation and warned that deploying troops without proper training or integration into local plans could worsen tensions. Officials said the National Guard’s presence may “inflame the situation” and divert resources needed elsewhere in the state.
