The three-judge panel includes Judges Gregory G. Katsas and Neomi J. Rao, both Trump appointees, and Patricia A. Millett, an Obama appointee. Judge Millet authored the opinion.
LAWFARE: The DC Circuit just unanimously upheld President Trump’s authority to deploy the National Guard in DC. Obama judge Millett joined judges Katsas & Rao confirm the orders are legal. Democrats claim Trump’s deployment orders are ‘illegal’ and encouraging troops to ignore… pic.twitter.com/Pa3PHB4rEh
— @amuse (@amuse) December 17, 2025
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In August 2025, there were about 2,000–2,300 National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C.; by December 2025 that number has risen to roughly 2,300–3,200 troops.
While Democrats accused President Trump of authoritarianism for deploying federal troops, even Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser was forced to acknowledge that the forces helped reduce crime, as the city went a full two-week period without a single murder for the first time in recorded history.