Fact Check: Federal Judge Ordered Trump to Relinquish Control of National Guard Troops
What We Know
In June 2025, a significant legal dispute arose regarding President Donald Trump's control over the California National Guard. A federal judge, Charles Breyer, ruled that Trump's deployment of the National Guard troops was illegal, stating that it violated the U.S. Constitution's division of powers and exceeded his statutory authority. Specifically, Breyer's ruling emphasized that the actions taken by Trump were unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment, which delineates the powers of state and federal governments (NPR, AP News).
The judge ordered that control of the National Guard troops be returned to California Governor Gavin Newsom by midday on a Friday. This marked a rare instance of a president being ordered to relinquish control of state National Guard troops, a situation that had not occurred in over 60 years (NPR).
However, shortly after this ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked the enforcement of Breyer's order, allowing Trump to maintain command of the troops while the case was under appeal (AP News, Politico).
Analysis
The ruling by Judge Breyer was based on a thorough examination of constitutional law, particularly regarding the limits of presidential authority over state National Guard units. Breyer's decision articulated that Trump's justification for deploying the National Guard—citing a rebellion against federal authority due to protests—was insufficient and did not meet the constitutional requirements for such a deployment (NPR).
Critically, the sources reporting on this event, including NPR and AP News, are generally regarded as reliable and adhere to journalistic standards. They provide detailed accounts of the legal proceedings and the implications of the rulings. However, the political context surrounding the events may introduce bias, particularly from sources that may favor one political perspective over another.
The appeals court's decision to block Breyer's ruling does not negate the fact that a federal judge did indeed order Trump to relinquish control of the National Guard. The temporary stay by the appeals court simply indicates that the legal battle was ongoing and that the final resolution had yet to be determined (Politico, NBC News).
Conclusion
The claim that a federal judge ordered Trump to relinquish control of the National Guard troops is True. Judge Breyer's ruling explicitly stated that Trump's actions were unconstitutional and directed that control of the troops be returned to the state governor. Although the appeals court later temporarily blocked this order, the initial ruling stands as a significant legal precedent regarding the limits of presidential authority over state military forces.
Sources
- Appeals court blocks earlier ruling, allows Trump to command ... - NPR
- Appeals court temporarily blocks judge's ruling to return ... - AP News
- What's Next for Trump and the National Guard in California After Court ... - New York Times
- Appeals court questions judges' ability to review Trump's ... - Reuters
- Appeals court lets Trump keep National Guard in Los Angeles - Politico
- Trump administration can keep control of California National Guard ... - NBC News
- Appeals court seems poised to side with Trump on ... - Politico
- Trump administration can deploy National Guard to Los ... - CBS News
