People hold signs that say “Free D.C.” during a press conference on Capitol Hill opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and his order to increase presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 4, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
(Reuters) -A federal judge on Thursday moved to halt President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., a temporary legal setback to Trump's efforts to send the military to American cities over objections of local leaders.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to enforce the law in the nation’s capital without approval from its mayor. However, she paused her ruling until Dec. 11 to allow the administration to appeal.
