Latest news with #federalproperty
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
National guard arrives in Washington DC
US Army National Guard Humvees park near the Washington Monument on Tuesday. Trump took command of the Washington DC police department and deployed the national guard under laws and constitutional powers that give the federal government more sway over the nation's capital than other cities. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Tourists ride bicycles past US Army National Guard Humvees near the Washington Monument. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington DC, said she expected members of the national guard to be deployed on federal property in the nation's capital. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters People pose for a photo with National Guard troops at the Washington Monument. Trump has called Washington a 'lawless city'. Photograph:A Washington, DC, flag reading Free DC hangs from an overpass with a view of the US Capitol. About 850 officers and agents took part in a 'massive law enforcement surge' across Washington DC on Monday night and made nearly two dozen arrests, the White House has said. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters FBI agents patrol the Navy Yard neighborhood. Democratic mayors across the country have warned Trump against expanding his law and order power grab in other major cities. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters Secretary of the army Dan Driscoll poses with soldiers and airmen from the District of Columbia National Guard at the DC National Guard Armory in Washington on Tuesday. A White House spokesperson said: 'This is only the beginning. Over the course of the next month, the Trump administration will relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the district who breaks the law, undermines public safety and endangers law-abiding Americans.' Photograph: Sgt. 1st Class Christy L. Sherman/U.S. Army National Guard/AP People protest US President Donald Trump's decision to federalize the DC police force and deploy 800 National Guard members, at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA A large American flag hangs near a sign that reads 'Heal Fast Big Balls Thanks, Trump!'. President Donald Trump threatened to take over Washington, DC, after Edward Coristinea 19-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer known online as 'Big Balls' was attacked in an apparent attempted carjacking near Dupont Circle over the weekend. Photograph:A Humvee vehicle leaves the Anacostia Park Police Field Office. Tuesday's arrests included Tuesday's arrests related to homicide, firearms offences, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, fare evasion, lewd acts and stalking, according to the White House. 'A total of six illegal handguns were seized off of District of Columbia's streets as part of last night's effort.' Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters A man walks by graffiti on a pedestrian bridge reading 'We keep us safe' and 'Power to the people'. The White House said homeless people had the option be taken to a homeless shelter and offered addiction and/or mental health services. 'If they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.' Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) federal agents patrol at Union Station. Trump's intervention has been widely condemned as an authoritarian power grab. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Members of the military walk to the Guard's headquarters at the DC Armory. Trump has said Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, New York and Baltimore are also 'bad'. Photograph:
Reuters
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
US military was deployed to LA protests despite low risk, general testifies
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Troops were used to protect federal property and personnel in California in recent months even though intelligence assessments showed little danger, two military officials testified on Monday at a landmark trial over President Donald Trump's authority to use soldiers to police American streets. The three-day non-jury trial before San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer will determine whether the government violated a 19th-century law that bars the military from civil law enforcement when Trump deployed the troops in June, as the state of California claims in its legal challenge. Los Angeles experienced days of unrest and protests sparked by mass immigration raids at places where people gather to find work, like Home Depot stores, a garment factory and a warehouse. Republican president Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June, against the wishes of its Democratic governor Gavin Newsom. The administration denies that troops were used in civil law enforcement and plans to show that they were protecting federal property and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The trial kicked off hours after Trump said he was taking the extraordinary step of deploying National Guard troops to fight crime in Washington and suggested he could take similar measures in other U.S. cities. Much of Monday's testimony came from U.S. Army Major General Scott Sherman, who until recently commanded the military operations in Los Angeles. Under questioning from a lawyer for California, he testified about an internal military intelligence assessment that concluded there would be little risk to federal property and personnel during a July 7 immigration enforcement operation at a Los Angeles park. Sherman said a DHS official criticized him and questioned his loyalty to the country after he denied an initial request for military assistance for the operation. A different request for assistance was later approved by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sherman said. Later during Sherman's testimony, Judge Breyer asked the general whether the military can deploy troops to incidents even if it has determined there is low risk to federal property or personnel. "If it is not seen as a situation in which there is a threat, then is it your testimony you can still deploy the military because there may be a threat in carrying out the operation?" Breyer asked. "That's correct, Your Honor," Sherman said. The Trump administration's witnesses also described more chaotic situations in which protestors threw Molotov cocktails and damaged federal buildings, justifying the initial use of the military to protect government property. Many of the troops have been withdrawn from Los Angeles, but California's Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Monday that 300 National Guard members are still going on immigration raids and restricting civilian movements in the state. The Trump administration last week extended the activation of troops in the Los Angeles area through November 6, according to a court filing by Newsom. "The federal government deployed military troops to the streets of Los Angeles for the purposes of political theater and public intimidation," Bonta said in a statement. "This dangerous move has no precedent in American history." California and Newsom, a prominent Democrat, have asked Breyer to prohibit the troops from directly participating in domestic law enforcement activities. They say the National Guard is accompanying ICE agents on raids and assisting in arrests, in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and other laws that forbid the U.S. military from taking part in civilian law enforcement. California's lawsuit ultimately seeks a ruling that would return its National Guard troops to state control and a declaration that Trump's action was illegal. The trial before Breyer will have limited impact on Trump's plan to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington as part of a crackdown on violent crime in the U.S. capital city, despite statistics showing that violent crime there hit a 30-year low in 2024. Unlike in California and other states, where the governor typically decides when to activate Guard troops, the president directly controls the National Guard in Washington.
CNN
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Marines guard federal building in LA
Marines guard federal building in LA Approximately 200 active-duty Marines have taken over from the National Guard troops who were previously deployed according to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, who oversees the 4,700 troops who have been deployed to the LA area in recent days. They 'will focus on the protection of federal property and personnel,' Sherman said, and will not be performing law enforcement activities. The Marines will be equipped with 'standard crowd control gear, which includes a helmet, their face shield, a shield, baton and gas masks,' according to Sherman. 00:44 - Source: CNN Kanye West makes brief appearance at Diddy trial courthouse Kanye West, who goes by Ye, was briefly at the courthouse where Sean "Diddy" Combs is on trial. A source close to West previously told CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister that he would like to attend the trial to show support for Combs. 00:27 - Source: CNN 'We will kill you': Florida sheriff issues stern warning to protesters As protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids continue in Los Angeles and other cities, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and law enforcement officials warned that demonstrators could face a forceful response in the state, CNN affiliate WESH reports. 00:33 - Source: CNN Analysis: Why Israel attacked Iran now CNN's Oren Liebermann explains the reasons why Israel decided to attack Iran in unprecedented strikes targeting its nuclear program and senior military leaders. 01:49 - Source: CNN Israel launches 'preemptive strike' on Iran Israel launched strikes against Iran, targeting its nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities, an Israeli military official said. CNN's Kaitlan Collins reports. 01:38 - Source: CNN Survivor of India plane crash appears to walk away from site in video Video appears to show the sole survivor of a 242 passenger plane crash walking away from the rubble. 00:27 - Source: CNN Video shows Sen. Padilla handcuffed on the ground at DHS event Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem separately spoke to the press after Padilla was forcibly removed and placed in handcuffs at Noem's press conference in Los Angeles, California. 01:19 - Source: CNN Sen. Padilla forcibly removed from Noem's press conference Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was confronted by security and forcibly removed from a news conference being held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles. 00:14 - Source: CNN Expert examines CCTV footage to see what happened to Air India flight before crash Newly released CCTV footage shows Air India Flight 171 take off before crashing moments later. CNN aviation analyst Miles O'Brien offers his analysis. 00:56 - Source: CNN Passenger survives Air India plane crash At least one passenger on board Air India Flight 171 to London Gatwick survived, local police said. According to Reuters, senior police officer Vidhi Chaudhary said the man had been in seat 11A and added that there may be a few more survivors in the hospital. 00:19 - Source: CNN Video shows moment plane crashes in India Social media video shows flames and thick smoke billowing into the air, as an Air India passenger plane, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane had departed an airport in Ahmedabad, India and was bound for London's Gatwick Airport. 00:20 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN LAPD chief pushes back on Trump CNN's Kaitlan Collins talks with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell who says he did not support President Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, despite statements Trump made earlier. 01:33 - Source: CNN Meatpacking employees block ICE cars with their bodies following raid Workers at a meatpacking plant in Omaha Nebraska tried to block ICE agents by throwing themselves on top of the cars to block their path following a raid on the business. More than 70 undocumented people were detained, the largest to take place in Nebraska since the start of the Trump's second term. 01:10 - Source: CNN Elon Musk called President Trump on Monday night expressing regret CNN's Kaitlan Collins reports the latest details on Elon Musk's Monday call with President Donald Trump and what it means for their relationship. 00:57 - Source: CNN Violence enters third day in Northern Ireland Unrest has spread to more towns in Northern Ireland after violence initially started in Ballymena. The third night of disturbances saw a leisure center, that had been recently used to shelter immigrants, set ablaze by masked youths. 00:45 - Source: CNN "Jane' testifies for fifth day in Combs trial 'Jane" continued cross-examination in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial for her fifth day. Prosecutors expect to rest their case at some point next week. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 02:18 - Source: CNN Trump says why his second term is different from the first In an interview with The New York Post's Pod Force One, President Trump explained why he "can be stronger on an attack on Los Angeles" in his second term compared to his first. Trump also said he told Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, he planned to deploy National Guard troops before doing so. 01:09 - Source: CNN
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Military Commander Says 200 Marines Moved into Los Angeles to Protect Federal Property and Personnel
About 200 Marines have moved into Los Angeles and will protect federal property and personnel, a military commander said Friday. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51 who is overseeing the 4,700 troops deployed, said Friday that the Marines have finished training on civil disturbance. Sherman said the Marines would take over operations at noon local time at the federal building in downtown Los Angeles. The development comes a day after the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that had directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California, shortly after a federal judge had ruled the Guard deployment was illegal and both violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded Trump's statutory authority. The Marines will join some 2,000 National Guard troops that have been on the streets of the city since last week when immigration raids set off protests. Over the past three nights the demonstrations have been largely peaceful with only a handful of arrests, mostly due to people failing to disperse. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called the troop deployment a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' and a power grab by Trump, and he has gone to court to stop it. The president has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilize federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' Under the Posse Comitatus Act, active-duty forces are prohibited by law from conducting law enforcement. Sherman said the National Guard soldiers at that location will transition to provide protection to federal law enforcement agents but not participate in law enforcement activities. Sherman said the US Marine Corps is responsible for guarding US embassies overseas so they are well-trained on how to defend a federal building. Some National Guard troops have protected immigration agents making arrests but Sherman said that 'we have had no soldier or Marine detain anyone.' The National Guard troops that were protecting federal property will transition to providing protection to more federal law enforcement officials, Sherman said. 'I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities,' he said. With more demonstrations expected over the weekend, and the possibility that Trump could send troops to other states for immigration enforcement, governors are weighing what to do. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put 5,000 National Guard members on standby in cities where demonstrations are planned. In other Republican-controlled states, governors have not said when or how they may deploy troops. A group of Democratic governors earlier signed a statement this week calling Trump's deployments 'an alarming abuse of power.' Hundreds arrested in LA protests There have been about 470 arrests since Saturday, the vast majority of which were for failing to leave the area at the request of law enforcement, according to the police department. There have been a handful of more serious charges, including for assault against officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine officers have been hurt, mostly with minor injuries.
Associated Press
12-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Utah Republican proposes sale of more than 2 million acres of US lands
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — More than 2 million acres of federal lands would be sold or transferred to states or other entities under a budget proposal from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, reviving a longtime ambition of Western conservatives to cede lands to local control after a similar proposal failed in the House. Lee, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, included a mandate for the sales in a draft provision of the GOP's sweeping tax cut package released Wednesday. Sharp disagreement over such sales has laid bare a split among Republicans who support wholesale transfers of federal property to spur development and generate revenue, and other lawmakers who are staunchly opposed. A spokesperson for Montana Sen. Steve Daines said Thursday that he opposes public land sales and was reviewing the proposal. Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, who served as interior secretary in President Donald Trump's first term and led the effort to strip land sales out of the House version, said he remained a 'hard no' on any legislation that includes large-scale sales. Most public lands are in Western states. In some such as Utah and Nevada, the government controls the vast majority of lands, protecting them from potential exploitation but hindering growth. Lee's proposal does not specify what properties would be sold. It directs the secretaries of interior and agriculture to sell or transfer at least 0.5% and up to 0.75% of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management holdings. That equals at least 2.2 million acres (890,000 hectares) and up to 3.3 million acres (1.3 million hectares) The Republican said in a video released by his office that the sales would not include national parks, national monuments or wilderness. They would instead target 'isolated parcels' that could be used for housing or infrastructure, he said. 'Washington has proven time and again it can't manage this land. This bill puts it in better hands,' Lee said. Conservation groups reacted with outrage, saying it would set a precedent to fast-track the handover of cherished lands to developers. 'Shoving the sale of public lands back into the budget reconciliation bill, all to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, is a betrayal of future generations and folks on both sides of the aisle,' said Michael Carroll with The Wilderness Society. Housing advocates have cautioned that federal land is not universally suitable for affordable housing. Some of the parcels up for sale in Utah and Nevada under the House proposal were far from developed areas. Republican officials in Utah last year filed a lawsuit last seeking to take over huge swathes of federal land in the state, but they were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. Twelve other states backed Utah's bid.
