September 3, 2025

Big news from California! A federal judge has declared that President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth broke the law when they sent the National Guard and active Marines to Los Angeles this summer. Why? They used the military to help with law enforcement, and that’s a big no-no under the 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act. This law, crafted after America’s Civil War in 1878, stops the president from using the army and air force as a sort of police force inside the US. The law clearly says anyone who 'willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws' can be fined or jailed, says Brennancenter.org. What set off this legal firestorm? President Trump sent troops to Los Angeles in June when strong protests broke out over immigration raids. The judge, Charles Breyer, issued a strong ruling on Tuesday, saying the Trump administration's actions violated the Posse Comitatus Act. He has now forbidden the government from using National Guard members or other military troops for civilian police work in California during this dispute. "President Trump's recent executive orders and public statements regarding the National Guard raise serious concerns as to whether he intends to order troops to violate the Posse Comitatus Act elsewhere in California," warned Judge Breyer. But hold on—the current 300 National Guard troops in Los Angeles won't be removed right away. The judge’s order stops using troops for arrests, searches, or crowd control but allows protecting federal property within legal limits. This court ruling is a big deal because Trump is thinking of sending troops to other cities like Chicago to tackle crime. After the California deployment, Governor Gavin Newsom sued, saying Trump broke the law. Judge Breyer fears Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could end up creating "a national police force with the President as its chief." And if you’re waiting for Trump to speak up, he’s set to make a public announcement today at 2 pm ET about the Department of Defense. Reports say he will reveal the Space Command is moving its headquarters. The judge’s order is on hold until September 12, but Trump is expected to appeal. In short, the legal battle over using military force on US soil is heating up faster than a Bollywood drama, and everyone’s eyes are glued to what Trump does next!

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Tags: Trump, National guard, Posse comitatus act, California, Judge breyer, Immigration protests,