On Monday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a significant legal decision that has heightened the political and legal stakes over the deployment of federal National Guard troops in Democratic-led cities. The court’s ruling, which aligned with the Trump administration’s long-standing position, affirmed the President’s authority to use federal forces in Portland, Oregon, under Section 12406(3) of the U.S. Code. This statute allows for the federalization of the National Guard when the President is unable to effectively execute the laws of the United States with regular forces, a power they argue is essential given the perceived threat to public safety and law enforcement in the city.
President Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for a strong executive response to civil unrest, saw this as a major victory in a series of legal challenges that have tested the administration’s ability to enforce its national security and public order policies. The decision comes after a lower court in Oregon temporarily blocked the deployment, describing Trump’s actions as