Oregon Lawmakers Move to Block Trump-Style Military Deployments on State Soil
Following President Donald Trump’s federalization of the National Guard in California in response to protests in Los Angeles, three Oregon lawmakers introduced a bill to strengthen state oversight.
The three lawmakers- all Democrats, are seeking to limit when and how the Oregon National Guard can be deployed.
They consider Trump’s use of the National Guard in response to the protests in Los Angeles as federal overreach. Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Southwest Portland, one of the chief sponsors of the bill, said, “Deploying the military against our country’s citizens is an affront to our democratic principles.”
In terms of the new bill:
- Any deployment that compromises the National Guard’s ability to respond to in-state emergencies, like wildfires and earthquakes, would be prohibited, and
- National Guard personnel duties they may and may not be called to perform would be specified.
The bill came before the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, where it passed despite objections, including from the top Republican in the House, Christine Drazan, who voted no. Drazan said she wanted to discuss with the caucus first.
The bill now moves to the full House for voting.