The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked former President Donald Trump's attempt to deploy the National Guard in Illinois earlier this year, marking a significant legal setback. The 6-3 decision rejected the administration's request to override lower court rulings that halted the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members federalized in October 2025.
In its order, the court stated the government failed to demonstrate legal authority for military intervention in Illinois, particularly around Chicago. The dispute began on October 4, 2025, when Trump activated guard members under federal service, followed by Texas National Guard deployments to Chicago the next day.
A federal district court issued a temporary restraining order on October 9, 2025, later upheld by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on October 16. While allowing federalization of guard units, the appeals court prohibited their deployment pending further review. Legal analysts suggest the Supreme Court's refusal to intervene reinforces checks on executive power during domestic operations.
