On November 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb issued a ruling declaring the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. by the Trump administration unlawful. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, which challenged the increased federal military presence in the capital without local approval.

Judge Cobb determined that the federal government exceeded its legal authority under Title 49 of the D.C. Code by deploying National Guard troops for non-military purposes, specifically for crime deterrence, without a request from local civil authorities. The ruling also highlighted that the Department of Defense lacked the statutory authority under 32 U.S.C. § 502 to call in out-of-state National Guard members to assist in the District. Cobb emphasized that the actions taken by the federal government harmed the District's exercise of its sovereign powers and that the public interest favored the District's position.

While the judge has ordered the National Guard to leave the district, the ruling is stayed until December 11, 2025, allowing the Trump administration time to appeal. The administration has characterized the lawsuit as politically motivated, asserting that the deployment is lawful and aimed at reducing crime. However, local leaders and legal experts have raised concerns about the implications of military involvement in civilian law enforcement, particularly in urban areas where local governance is undermined.

This ruling is part of a broader trend of federal troop mobilization in various U.S. cities, which has sparked debates regarding the appropriateness of using military forces in domestic policing contexts, especially when local authorities oppose such actions.