California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging what they describe as an illegal takeover of a California National Guard unit. The legal action comes after President Donald Trump ordered federalized National Guard troops into Los Angeles without the consent of state officials, citing it as necessary to manage unrest in the area.
The lawsuit names President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Department of Defense as defendants. It argues that this move violates the U.S. Constitution by exceeding presidential authority under Title 10 and bypassing required gubernatorial approval.
Governor Newsom criticized Trump’s actions: “Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority… This is beyond incompetence — this is him intentionally causing chaos.”
Attorney General Bonta added that federalizing the National Guard was unnecessary: “President Trump’s order calling federalized National Guard troops into Los Angeles – over the objections of the Governor and local law enforcement – is unnecessary and counterproductive.”
The complaint asserts that recent protests in Los Angeles did not warrant federal intervention, noting that local authorities maintained control without requesting assistance from federal forces. Despite this, on June 7, President Trump issued a memorandum authorizing military involvement, which led to increased tensions within communities.
This marks only the second time since 1965 that a president has activated a state’s National Guard without gubernatorial request. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously remarked that such federalization would be “a direct attack on states’ rights.”
Newsom’s lawsuit seeks judicial intervention to halt what he describes as an unprecedented abuse of power by requiring adherence to proper legal procedures for any future federalization attempts.
