News|Donald TrumpTrump can keep National Guard in Washington, DC, for now: Appeals courtCourt grants stay on previous order giving timeline for troop withdrawal as administration considers response.
A United States appeals court has issued a stay on a lower court's order requiring the withdrawal of the National Guard from Washington, DC. The decision, made on Thursday, Nov 21, 2025, by a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC…
A United States appeals court has issued a stay on a lower court's order requiring the withdrawal of the National Guard from Washington, DC. The decision, made on Thursday, Nov 21, 2025, by a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, grants a request from the Trump administration to pause the previous order as it evaluates its response.
District Judge Jia Cobb initially ruled in November that the Trump administration must withdraw federal troops by December 11, later extending the deadline by 21 days. The appeals court emphasized that the decision to pause the order should not be interpreted as a judgment on its merits.
The Trump administration has deployed approximately 2,000 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, as part of an initiative described as anti-crime and beautification. Legal challenges have arisen as similar deployments were attempted in Democrat-run cities, including Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago. However, rulings in these areas have been slower due to the federal status of Washington, DC.
A United States appeals court has issued a stay on a lower court's order requiring the withdrawal of the National Guard from Washington, DC.
Judge Cobb ruled that the deployment was contrary to law, as the National Guard was used for non-military, crime-deterrence missions without a request from the city's civil authorities.
Recently, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on duty near the White House. One member, Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, succumbed to her injuries, while another, Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, remains in critical condition. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, aged 29, has been charged in connection with the attack. Following this event, the Trump administration announced plans to send 500 additional National Guard members to the city.
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Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
