CHICAGO, Illinois — The Defense Department is reducing the number of federally activated National Guard troops in Chicago and Portland as court challenges continue to stall President Donald Trump’s deployment orders. A defense official told NPR that 200 California National Guard members in Oregon and 200 Texas National Guard members in Illinois will return home in the coming days, with the withdrawals first reported by ABC News.
U.S. Northern Command suggested Friday that changes were coming to maintain “a constant, enduring, and long-term presence in each city,” adding that troops remain trained and ready to support law enforcement if needed. The defense official noted the upcoming holidays may have influenced the timing.
Roughly 300 Illinois National Guard personnel will remain active in Chicago, while Oregon’s contingent in Portland will be reduced from 200 to 100. The Trump administration has expanded National Guard use over the past six months, arguing troops are necessary to curb crime, manage protests, and protect federal facilities.
State and local officials in Oregon and Illinois have opposed the deployments, calling them unnecessary and accusing the president of exceeding his authority. Courts have repeatedly blocked Guard members from operating in urban streets, siding with state leaders who objected.
On Nov. 7, a federal judge in Oregon permanently blocked deployments to Portland, prompting an immediate appeal from the administration. The Supreme Court is weighing an emergency request from the White House to allow troop operations in Chicago.
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