Washington files lawsuit against Trump administration over military deployment in the city
The capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., formally filed a lawsuit in federal court against the administration of former President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The reason for this legal action was Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to patrol the city streets amid political tensions and protests.
This move sparked intense debate and heated controversies over the boundaries of federal power concerning internal affairs and local autonomy.
The district’s Attorney General, Bryan Schwalb, acting as plaintiff, asserts that the military deployment violates constitutional principles and federal laws regulating domestic military actions within cities and communities.
According to Schwalb, armed troops should not patrol American streets during peacetime, and enforced military occupation undermines local sovereignty and infringes on fundamental civil rights.
This is not the first attempt to contest control over internal security following recent Supreme Court rulings declaring the use of troops within U.S.
territories illegal.
Last month, Trump mobilized troops in Washington, claiming they were necessary to restore law and order, and he placed the city police directly under federal authority.
The White House spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, emphasized that these actions were taken out of necessity to protect federal property and aid law enforcement in ensuring public safety.
Critics, however, see these measures as interference in local affairs and violations of residents’ constitutional rights.
The case is currently being considered by Judge Gia Cobb, appointed by President Biden.
The proceedings also involve Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, whom Trump seeks to dismiss.
The outcome of these legal battles remains uncertain, but it is clear that the conflict between federal and local authorities in Washington is escalating in the broader struggle over national internal security.