Troops should only be deployed on U.S. soil as a last resort.
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Troops on the Streets of Los Angeles
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In a shocking act, President Trump has deployed hundreds of Marines and federalized California National Guard soldiers in response to overwhelmingly peaceful protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. It happened despite the fact that the LAPD said — and videos showed — that the situation was under control. To bypass the law against using the military for domestic law enforcement without congressional approval, the administration cited a statute that has never before been used this way
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Violent protests are not acceptable or productive. But Trump’s order doesn’t just send troops to LA — it authorizes military deployment anywhere in the country where protests against ICE activities “are likely to occur.” Using the military against civilians inside the United States should be a last resort. Preemptive deployment before a protest even happens is the opposite of that. The president’s actions represent a dangerous and unnecessary use of military force, and both the courts and the public must stand against it
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Weakening the Federal Courts
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A provision in the House’s budget bill that has flown under the radar could seriously weaken the power of federal judges. Section 70302 would limit their ability to hold people in contempt for disobeying court orders. Without this authority, federal judges would have few ways to ensure that their rulings are followed — including by government officials. A Brennan Center analysis outlines how the bill would undermine the rule of law and urges Congress to remove the provision
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DOJ Abandons Voters
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For decades, the Department of Justice has been charged with enforcing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discriminatory voting policies and district maps. But under the current administration, the DOJ has stepped back from defending voting rights and fair representation
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Hopeful Signs from North Carolina
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There is at least one bright spot for voting rights this year. After more than a decade of federal courts retreating from protecting voting rights, a recent ruling indicates there’s a line they still won’t cross. Last month, a federal judge upheld the results of North Carolina’s supreme court race, affirming that the rules of an election can’t be changed after votes have been cast. The ruling sends a clear message to those who might try to subvert the 2026 elections: Your efforts won’t succeed
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BRENNAN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Executive power expert Elizabeth Goitein explains why there are tight legal restrictions against deploying the U.S. military domestically for law enforcement. Watch on Instagram >>
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Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
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