Federal court says troops can stay in D.C., and hints at prolonged deployment

Members of the National Guard patrol along Constitution Ave. on December 01, 2025 in Washington, DC.

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has ruled that National Guard troops can remain in the city for now. That decision comes after a different federal appeals court ruled that troops must leave Los Angeles earlier this week.

(Image credit: Heather Diehl)