US court blocks federal judge’s National Guard order

US: A court order compelling US President Donald Trump to return National Guard control to California has been paused on appeal. A judge had previously ruled that the Guard’s deployment had exceeded Trump’s authority.

An appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked an order for US President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California Governor Gavin Newsom after their deployment to quell anti-immigration protests.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals paused Judge Charles Breyer’s order after an appeal by the Trump administration. The court said a hearing on the matter would be heard on Tuesday.

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Trump found to have exceeded authority in earlier decision Before the Appeals Court decision earlier on Thursday, Judge Breyer ruled that the deployment of the Guard was against the law and exceeded Trump’s authority.

“His actions were illegal both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Breyer wrote in his decision.

Governor Newsom had approached the court for an emergency motion to block troops from deployment during protests over anti-immigration raids.

“This win is not just for California, but the nation. It’s a check on a man whose authoritarian tendencies are increasing by the day,” the governor said on X, before the appeals court decision.

The White House had called Breyer’s order “unprecedented” and said it “puts our brave federal officials in danger.”

“The district court has no authority to usurp the President’s authority as Commander in Chief,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.