Newsom blocks other states' National Guard troops from California - USA Today

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would ban other states from deploying National Guard troops in California without permission, amid fears that President Donald Trump would deploy troops at polling stations during November’s midterms.

Senate Bill 1354, which Newsom signed on Saturday, Sept. 19, prohibits “military personnel from another state, territory, or the District of Columbia from entering California to perform military duty or law-enforcement functions without the permission of the Governor.”

“In California, the National Guard is deployed to serve the people, not to intimidate them,” Newsom said in a press release. “In any matters of public safety, security, and beyond, California will continue to lead.”

The new bill comes amid worries of potential troop deployments by the Trump administration to influence November’s midterms. 

On Monday, Democratic state parties announced that they would be launching the “New Battlefield Project,” which looks to recruit 10,000 volunteers to guard polling places across the United States, according to the Associated Press.

Newsom’s move comes more than a year after Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June 2025 after protests against the president’s immigration crackdown sometimes turned violent.

Trump said federal intervention was necessary because of what he called the inaction of Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Newsom and Bass disputed Trump's characterization of the situation on the ground, saying no emergency justified deploying the military.

Months later, in December, a federal judge blocked Trump’s deployment and ordered Newsom to be given back control of the guardsmen.

USA TODAY’s N'dea Yancey-Bragg contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.