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California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that his administration is filing a formal request for records related to President Donald Trump’s recent use of federal law enforcement and military personnel in California. The request follows reports that dozens of federal agents were deployed near the Democracy Center in Los Angeles on August 14, during an event where state and federal officials gathered to announce efforts to challenge the administration’s handling of the upcoming midterm elections. According to the governor’s office, the action appeared intended to intimidate political opponents.
In a statement, Newsom condemned the deployment, calling it a dangerous misuse of federal resources. “Trump’s use of the military and federal law enforcement to try to intimidate his political opponents is yet another dangerous step towards authoritarianism,” he said. “We will not back down in our defense of democratic freedom, and the Trump administration should answer for this behavior.” The request asks for documents, communications, and records detailing the administration’s decision, as well as any coordination with Fox News, which embedded a reporter with immigration enforcement agents during the operation.
This marks the second Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Newsom administration in recent weeks. On August 6, the governor’s office sought records to determine the total costs of Trump’s June order federalizing the California National Guard and activating U.S. Marines for deployment in Los Angeles. Pentagon officials have testified to Congress that the deployment is projected to cost $134 million. The governor’s office says the information is essential for assessing the legality and fiscal impact of the administration’s actions.
In June 2025, President Trump ordered the federalization of up to 4,000 California National Guard members and deployed roughly 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid escalating protests tied to immigration enforcement. The move, enacted without Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval, marked the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard had been placed under federal control against the wishes of its governor. The Trump administration defended the decision as necessary to protect federal facilities and personnel under a legal provision that allows such action in cases of unrest.
California leaders quickly challenged the deployment, arguing it violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. Officials presented evidence that federal troops took part in blockades, perimeter security, and operations linked to immigration enforcement—activities state leaders said went beyond the president’s authority. A U.S. District Court initially sided with California and ordered the return of command to the governor, but an appeals court later allowed federal control to remain in place pending further legal review.
Over the last six months, the dispute has evolved into a high-profile legal battle testing the limits of presidential power. The trial now underway will determine whether Trump’s actions were lawful or represented an unconstitutional overreach into state authority. The case has drawn national attention, with critics warning of the precedent such deployments could set and supporters arguing they were necessary to maintain order during unrest. The outcome is expected to have lasting implications for federal-state relations and the role of the military in domestic affairs.