Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown will hold a press conference Monday morning to address the Trump administration’s military deployments in American cities, including National Guard troops sent to Portland.
The 10:30 a.m. September 29 conference will outline plans to “protect residents from federal overreach” and detail coordination between local and state agencies to inform the public, maintain constitutional protections, and preserve local control over law enforcement resources.
The announcement follows Oregon’s legal challenge against the federal government. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Governor Tina Kotek, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson filed a lawsuit after the administration federalized 200 Oregon National Guard members for a 60-day deployment to protect ICE facilities and federal property during Portland protests.
“There is no insurrection or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland or any other city in our state,” Kotek said during Friday’s virtual press conference, calling the deployment “an abuse of power and a disservice to our communities and our service members.”
Oregon’s lawsuit in U.S. District Court argues Trump’s Title 10 invocation exceeds constitutional authority and violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts federal troops in domestic law enforcement, and the Tenth Amendment reserving state powers. Oregon officials contend no rebellion, invasion, or federal law obstruction justifies federalizing the Guard.
“This is about defending both the Constitution and the rights of Oregonians,” Rayfield said. “We won’t allow the federal government to turn our communities into a political stage.”
Harrell and Brown referenced a recent federal court ruling declaring Trump’s Los Angeles troop deployment unconstitutional for violating the Posse Comitatus Act, establishing legal precedent supporting both states’ arguments.
National Guard deployments are underway or threatened in multiple cities including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and Portland amid nationwide protests.
Kotek confirmed Trump invoked Title 10 through text message Friday. “We had a text exchange today, and what I can say is the text exchange started with the assumption we would continue to have conversations, then we received notice that they were invoking Title 10. I expressed my disagreement and disgruntlement with that decision, and that’s where we’ve left it,” she said.
Oregon and Portland are seeking a temporary restraining order within 24 hours of Trump’s announcement to block deployment. Officials warned federal troops could escalate tensions and compromise community safety.
“The claims that Portland is ungovernable are false and fictional,” Rayfield said. “Our local officials have made it clear: we have the capacity to manage public safety without federal interference.”
Portland Police Bureau has voiced opposition to federal presence, asserting capability to maintain order independently.
Joshua Watkins, who served 24 years in the Army, shared concerns near Camp Murray where Washington’s National Guard is stationed. “It’s really not good, those soldiers, they’re there for a different mission, not to go to different cities,” Watkins said. “It’s like we’re fighting against ourselves.”
An unnamed active duty member expressed disagreement with the deployment, noting protesters have constitutional rights and military personnel shouldn’t be used this way.
Both states are urging courts to prevent what they characterize as constitutional erosion and precedent for federal interference in state affairs.
