As Trump Unconstitutionally Deploys Military Into American Cities, Padilla, Schiff, Illinois, Oregon Senators Oppose NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Amid President Trump's escalating deployments of troops to American cities, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) - the six U.S. Senators representing states that Donald Trump is targeting with troop deployments over state and local officials' strong objections - issued the following statement on their vote against the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

"When our troops raised their right hands and took their oaths, they signed up to defend this country and our Constitution. They didn't sign up to aid a wannabe dictator's campaign to intimidate Americans in their own neighborhoods from exercising their rights to free speech and protest - the very rights our servicemembers swore to protect.

"We cannot support authorizing this Administration to continue its egregious and unconstitutional abuse of our servicemembers, with Donald Trump treating them like political props by deploying them domestically without any legitimate reason or request from state and local officials.

"The purpose of the NDAA is to make sure our military has the authorities and resources it needs to protect our national security - but right now, by pulling troops away from their core missions and forcing them into our own streets, Donald Trump is threatening the very rights we all hold dear as Americans."

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump's militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. Earlier this week, the California, Illinois, and Oregon Senators condemned the President's deployment of troops against their states. In June, Padilla led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. Last month, Padilla, Schiff, and 17 other Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military in Los Angeles to suppress peaceful protests. The California Senators also recently demanded the U.S. Department of Defense provide information on operational details related to the ongoing deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles.

After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city's police department, Padilla supported legislation granting the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additionally, Padilla recently introduced bicameral legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President's deployment of the National Guard. Padilla previously placed a hold on Trump's nominee to serve as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, until the Trump Administration releases all remaining U.S. military forces from their unjustified deployment to Los Angeles.

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