Representative Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, plans to introduce legislation next week aimed at restricting President Trump’s ability to send active-duty military troops to states or territories unless explicitly requested by the respective governor.
This proposed legislation, dubbed the Trump Power Abuse Act, was first reported by The Hill. It comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles earlier this month amid ongoing concerns regarding the president’s immigration policies. This deployment included hundreds of Marines and over 2,000 California State Guardsmen.
Stevens criticized Trump for what she described as a troubling tendency to disregard constitutional processes. She argued that his recent actions complicated local law enforcement efforts in California by unlawfully deploying military resources on U.S. soil.
“We need to address the chaos and disruption that Donald Trump brings,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of enacting this law to curtail his power to mobilize troops within the U.S. for personal political gain. “Our nation operates under the rule of law, and the president must adhere to it.”
Stevens’ office indicated that the new measure would modify the Rebellion Act of 1807, specifically focusing on matters related to peaceful protests.
The president faced significant pushback from Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who claimed Trump’s federalization of troops without his consultation was illegal and sought a court order to halt the deployment.
A U.S. District Judge, appointed by Clinton, initially ruled in favor of California; however, the 9th Circuit Court later overturned this emergency order on June 13. The three-judge panel extended the suspension in a lengthy decision that lacked a formal signature.
“Our ruling specifically addresses the facts at hand,” the appeals court noted. “While we acknowledge the president’s authority to federalize the National Guard, our decision does not discuss the activities the National Guard may engage in.”
On Friday, Trump announced the ruling as a “major victory,” while Newsom remarked on X that “the battle is far from over.”
