Pentagon Withdraws Hundreds of National Guard Troops From Portland and Chicago Amid Court Battles

Pentagon Pulls Back National Guard Units; Remaining Troops Kept Off Streets

Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago are being withdrawn, and those who remain will be kept off public streets as legal challenges over the Trump administration's domestic deployments continue, a defense official said Monday.

Officials said the drawdown affects forces sent from California and Texas and is part of a broader adjustment in troop assignments after President Donald Trump directed National Guard units to support immigration enforcement in several Democratic-led cities. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

US Northern Command said it was "shifting and/or rightsizing" units in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago, while asserting there would be a "constant, enduring, and long-term presence in each city."

In the coming days, all 200 California National Guard members currently deployed to Portland will return home, the official said. The number of Oregon National Guard personnel on duty in Portland will be reduced from 200 to 100.

About 200 Texas National Guard troops in Chicago will be sent home, and roughly 200 Texas soldiers will be placed on standby at Fort Bliss, a large Army installation spanning parts of Texas and New Mexico. Approximately 300 Illinois National Guard members will remain in the Chicago area for training, but they are not currently authorized to conduct operations alongside the Department of Homeland Security.

The defense official suggested the approaching holiday season may have been a factor in the decision to adjust deployments. About 100 troops in Los Angeles will remain on deployment there, the official added.

Reactions From State Leaders

"He never should have illegally deployed our troops in the first place," said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, praising the return of California Guard members. "We're glad they're finally coming home. It's long overdue!"

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek urged the administration to demobilize the remaining 100 Guard members in her state. "Members of the Oregon National Guard, who are our friends and neighbors, have been away from their families and jobs for 50 days on an unnecessary deployment," Kotek said. "With the holidays approaching, every single member deserves to go home."

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized the administration's communications with state leaders and said it was still threatening to federalize additional troops. "This confirms what we have always known: This is about normalizing military forces in American cities," said Pritzker spokesman Matt Hill.

Legal Challenges and Context

Democratic-led cities targeted by the White House — including Chicago, which has filed a separate lawsuit now before the U.S. Supreme Court — have pushed back, arguing the administration has not met the legal threshold for deploying troops and that such actions would infringe on state sovereignty.

In Portland this month, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a permanent injunction blocking the administration from deploying troops in the city, finding the government had not shown it was legally entitled to do so. The administration filed an emergency motion seeking to pause that ruling while it appeals.

Separately, federal immigration enforcement has been stepped up in other cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina, in an expanded campaign led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

National Guard deployments have been among the most contentious moves of the administration, reflecting an increased willingness to use military assets for domestic objectives. Although Guard members are not serving in a law-enforcement capacity, they have been tasked with protecting federal facilities, especially those operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bottom line: The Pentagon is reallocating Guard forces in response to legal rulings, state objections and operational assessments while maintaining a reduced but ongoing federal presence in several cities.