Krishnamoorthi Files Legislation to Block Trump’s National Guard Deployment to Chicago

WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) announced today they have filed their Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), following President Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard into Chicago after already sending forces into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The amendment, which they introduced earlier this year as a standalone bill, would prevent any president from unilaterally deploying active-duty military forces or federalizing the National Guard against communities without a request from a state or territory’s elected leadership. The amendment comes in direct response to former President Donald Trump’s threats to send the National Guard into Chicago and other Democratic-led cities, despite no emergency warranting such action. 

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a vocal opponent of Trump's threats, saying his illegal attempt to militarize Chicago "will do nothing but spark chaos and create spectacle" as "there is no emergency in Illinois that warrants federalizing our National Guard or deploying active-duty troops into our communities." Just last month, Trump deployed active-duty forces to Los Angeles without a state request, sparking alarm across the country about the misuse of the armed forces for domestic political purposes.

“No president should be able to turn the U.S. military into their personal police force. When Donald Trump threatens to send the National Guard into Chicago, it’s not about keeping people safe — it’s about militarizing a city, silencing dissent, and staging political stunts. Our amendment is simple: if you want to deploy troops into a state, you need the governor’s request. Anything less is a dangerous abuse of power that tramples on the Constitution.”

The Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act would:

• Prohibit the President from unilaterally deploying active-duty military personnel into U.S. states or territories in response to peaceful protests or demonstrations.

• Require an explicit request from the governor or chief executive of a state or territory before any such deployment.

• Reinforce constitutional checks and balances on executive authority and safeguard the right to peaceful assembly. 

The amendment now goes to the Rules Committee, which will determine whether it will be ruled in order and receive a vote.