California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Saturday requiring other states to get his permission before sending National Guard troops into California for military or law enforcement duties, the latest move in a broader dispute over President Donald Trump’s use of Guard forces in U.S. cities.
Senate Bill 1354 prohibits military personnel from another state, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia from entering California for military duty or law enforcement functions without the governor’s permission. The law does not apply to forces legally called into federal service under Title 10 and operating under the authority of the president or defense secretary.
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“For the last year, Donald Trump has treated the National Guard as his political weapon — deploying troops into American cities and trampling over states’ rights,” Newsom said in a social media post announcing the signing. “California has seen enough.”
The Democratic governor said the legislation is intended to give California greater control over out-of-state military forces operating within its borders.
The measure was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Bob Archuleta of Pico Rivera and targets a distinction between two ways National Guard troops can operate.
Under Title 10, Guard members are federalized and placed under federal command. Under Title 32, Guard members remain under the command of their state’s governor, even though the federal government can fund their mission. California officials say SB 1354 closes what they described as a legal loophole that could have allowed another governor to send Title 32 forces into California, including at a president’s request, without California’s consent.
“SB 1354 protects California’s sovereignty by ensuring that military personnel from other states only enter California for appropriate missions and training,” Archuleta said in a statement released by Newsom’s office.
Dispute over National Guard deployments
The law comes after a series of clashes between Newsom and the Trump administration over the National Guard.
Trump federalized California National Guard troops and deployed them to Los Angeles in June 2025 over Newsom’s objections. Newsom challenged the action in court, arguing the president had exceeded his authority. A federal court later directed the administration to return control of the Guard members to the governor.
Newsom’s office said federal records showed the Los Angeles deployment cost taxpayers an estimated $111.2 million in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, with some final costs still outstanding. The governor’s office also said the deployment diverted Guard members from other missions, including wildfire response and counterdrug operations.
California officials said the experience helped drive the push for the new restrictions.
“The National Guard is deployed to serve the people, not to intimidate them,” Newsom said in a statement. He said the new law was intended to protect the state against what he called unauthorized military intrusions.
The issue extends beyond California.
A legal challenge before the South Carolina Supreme Court concerns the state governor’s authority to deploy South Carolina National Guard personnel to Washington, D.C., according to Newsom’s office. California officials also pointed to Guard deployments to Washington in 2026, saying some personnel initially sent to support America 250 celebrations were later shifted to a broader federal anti-crime operation without their governors’ consent.
