Trump administration retreats in Newsom lawsuit over National Guard deployment

"The Trump administration backed off its effort to block a court order returning control of National Guard troops in Los Angeles to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a brief filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Tuesday, Justice Department lawyers said they no longer oppose lifting a partial administrative stay and formally withdrew their request to keep the troops under federal control while the appeal proceeds."

"The move follows the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week in Trump v. Illinois, which cast new doubt on the administration's legal theory for using the National Guard in domestic law enforcement operations. Tuesday's filing with the appeals court does not concede the merits of California's case brought by Newsom, but it removes a major procedural obstacle to enforcing the lower court's ruling."

"In the filing, federal lawyers said they "do not oppose lifting of the partial administrative stay and hereby respectfully withdraw their motion for a stay pending appeal." "This admission by Trump and his occult cabinet members means this illegal intimidation tactic will finally come to an end," Newsom wrote on X, adding that he is looking forward to the 9th Circuit making an official ruling that would return the California National Guard to state service."

Justice Department lawyers withdrew their motion to keep California National Guard troops under federal control and said they do not oppose lifting a partial administrative stay. The withdrawal followed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. Illinois, which cast doubt on the administration's legal theory allowing indefinite presidential control of federalized Guard units for domestic law enforcement. The appeals filing did not concede the merits of Gov. Gavin Newsom's case but removed a major procedural barrier to returning the Guard to state control. Newsom characterized the move as an end to an illegal intimidation tactic. Similar legal fights continue in Oregon and Illinois.

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