Newsom files emergency motion to block Trump’s militarization of Los Angeles

Governor Gavin Newsom said he has filed an emergency motion in federal court to block Trump's deployment of the National Guard and Marines troops in Los Angeles.

The governor and Attorney General Rob Bonta are filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to end the takeover of a CalGuard unit, which they say “has needlessly escalated chaos and violence in the Los Angeles region.”

The lawsuit names President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Department of Defense. It outlines why the takeover violates the U.S. Constitution and exceeds the President’s Title 10 authority, not only because the takeover occurred without the consent or input of the Governor, as federal law requires, but also because it was unwarranted.

“Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority,” Governor Newsom said. “This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic. Every governor, red or blue, should reject this outrageous overreach. This is beyond incompetence — this is him intentionally causing chaos, terrorizing communities, and endangering the principles of our great democracy. It is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. We will not let this stand.”

Under the California Constitution, Governor Newsom is the Commander-in-Chief of the California National Guard. In the lawsuit, Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta explain that the federal government has overstepped its legal authority and bypassed the Governor’s approval to take over a unit of CalGuard, in a situation where federal government intervention was not needed and did not meet the necessary criteria for federalization. 

The governor stated that the unrest in Los Angeles is nowhere close to rising to the level of a “rebellion” beyond the capacity of local and state authorities to control, nor is it different in kind from other similar situations in recent years that were brought under control by local authorities with no need for military intervention. They allege that the Department of Defense’s mobilization order also failed to comply with President Trump’s own direction in coordinating with the governor and the National Guard. 

Trump’s takeover

On Friday, June 6, 2025, the federal government, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement, began conducting widespread operations throughout Los Angeles without providing notification to local law enforcement. During the course of these operations, ICE officers took actions that the Governor says inflamed tensions, including the arrest and detainment of children, and military-style operations that sparked panic in the community. The Department of Homeland Security reported that its enforcement activities on June 6 resulted in the arrest of 44 individuals, two of whom appear to have been minors. Only five of those arrested reportedly had any criminal history. 

In response, community members began protesting to express opposition to the federal raids. 

“At no point did these protests necessitate federal intervention, and local and state law enforcement remained in control of the situation” the governor’s statement says.