Can President Trump Federalize the California National Guard?

On June 7, President Trump asserted control over California’s National Guard. In this episode, Professor Michael Ramsey of the University of San Diego School of Law and Liza Goitein of the Brennan Center join Jeffrey Rosen to explore the meaning of 10 U.S.C. 12406 and unpack California Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit challenging the legality of President Trump’s actions. 

Resources

• Michael Ramsey, “John Yoo on Presidential Authority to Use the National Guard,” The Originalism Blog (June 13, 2025) 
• Elizabeth Goitein, “Unpacking Trump’s Order Authorizing Domestic Deployment of the Military,” The Brennan Center (June 10, 2025) 
• Elizabeth Goitein, “Preventing Use of National Guard to Evade Posse Comitatus Act,” Center for a New American Security (May 20, 2025)
• Newsom v. Trump, Northern District of California (June 12, 2025)
• Martin v. Mott (1827)

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