Washington, D.C., remains under the watchful eye of the National Guard, thanks to a federal appeals court ruling that’s got the Trump administration breathing a sigh of relief, as Fox News reports.
In a unanimous decision, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has greenlit President Donald Trump’s plan to keep National Guard troops stationed in the nation’s capital through the end of February 2025, overturning a lower court’s attempt to send them packing.
This saga kicked off in September 2025, when D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the Guard’s deployment infringed on the city’s law enforcement autonomy. Schwalb even pushed for a judicial pause on the deployment while the case unfolded. But the administration held firm, and now the appeals court has stepped in with a decisive nod to federal authority.
Before this latest ruling, the appeals court had already temporarily frozen the lower court’s order to withdraw the troops while deliberating a longer-term pause. Now, with a three-judge panel—two of whom were Trump appointees during his first term—they’ve made it clear: the Guard stays.
The court’s reasoning hinges on D.C.’s unique status as a federal district, carved out by Congress itself, which they argue likely places the deployment within the president’s purview. It’s a sharp reminder that the capital isn’t just another city; it’s the heart of federal power.
Judge Patricia Millett didn’t mince words, stating, “The President’s order implicates a strong and distinctive interest in the protection of federal governmental functions and property within the Nation’s capital.” That’s a polite way of saying D.C. isn’t your average jurisdiction, and progressive objections might just have to take a backseat to national priorities.
Throughout late summer 2025, the Guard’s presence was unmistakable in D.C., with troops marching toward the Armory after Trump’s bold move to oversee local policing, addressing law enforcement personnel alongside the president, and patrolling the iconic National Mall. It’s a visual that underscores the administration’s commitment to order in a city often caught in political crosshairs.
The appeals court also took a swipe at D.C.’s legal challenge, with Millett noting that the attorney general failed to show “any ongoing injury to its statutory interests.” Translation: nice try, but where’s the real harm in protecting the federal seat of government?
Now, the court did throw in a caveat—this preliminary ruling doesn’t settle the full case, and they admitted their assessment was somewhat rushed. They called a stay pending appeal an “extraordinary remedy,” but argued the administration showed a strong likelihood of winning on appeal.
Still, the court was careful to distinguish D.C. from other locales, hinting that deploying out-of-state Guard units to non-consenting states for law enforcement could raise constitutional red flags. It’s a subtle warning that federal overreach isn’t a blank check everywhere.
The Office of the Attorney General for D.C. isn’t backing down, issuing a statement that reads, “This is a preliminary ruling that does not resolve the merits. We look forward to continuing our case in both the District and appellate courts.” Good luck with that—sounds like they’re gearing up for a long fight against a judiciary leaning toward federal prerogative.
Let’s be real: this ruling is a win for those who believe a strong federal hand is needed to keep D.C. secure, especially in times of tension. It’s not about trampling local rights; it’s about recognizing the capital’s unique role.
Critics of the deployment might cry foul, but the court’s logic is hard to ignore—thousands of service members who’ve been on duty for months would’ve faced massive disruption without this pause. Stability matters, even if it ruffles some progressive feathers.
So, where does this leave us? The National Guard remains in D.C. through February 2025, and the Trump administration has a legal feather in its cap while the broader case plays out.
For now, the message is clear: when it comes to protecting the nation’s capital, the federal government holds the trump card—no pun intended. This isn’t about sidelining local voices; it’s about ensuring the seat of democracy doesn’t become a chaotic playground for disorder.
