PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced Sunday that members of the Texas National Guard are being sent to Oregon, a move she says was made without any direct communication or explanation from President Donald Trump or Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Kotek revealed that “the Department of War has ordered the Texas Adjutant General to deploy 400 Texas National Guard members to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations throughout the United States.” However, she emphasized that it remains unclear how many troops are being sent to Oregon, where they will be stationed, or what specific missions they are expected to undertake.
Federal Court Blocks Guard Deployment to Oregon
The announcement came just hours after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking any National Guard troops from being deployed to Oregon. The legal action followed escalating tensions between state officials and the Trump administration over federal troop deployments in Portland.
Also Read
Earlier in the day, Oregon added California as a co-complainant in its ongoing lawsuit opposing federal troop movements into the state. The renewed legal challenge came after President Trump ordered California National Guard members to Portland early Sunday morning.
State Leaders Unite Against Federal Orders
Governor Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Portland Mayor Dan Wilson held a joint press conference Sunday afternoon to announce a second lawsuit—this time in response to the California troop deployment. The officials said they are seeking an emergency hearing scheduled for Monday to prevent further federal involvement.
“I join Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in calling on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate with the federal order,” Kotek said in a statement Sunday night. “As Governor, I will continue to fight to uphold the rule of law and the right to govern ourselves.”
Legal and Political Fallout
This marks the latest escalation in Oregon’s legal battle with the Trump administration over military deployments in the state. Kotek and other Democratic leaders have accused the White House of overstepping constitutional boundaries by sending troops without state consent.
The Oregon Department of Justice has argued that the move undermines state sovereignty and risks inflaming tensions amid ongoing demonstrations in Portland.
Governor Kotek reaffirmed her commitment to transparency and pledged to keep Oregonians informed as the situation develops. “We will continue to stand firm against unlawful federal interference,” she said.
As of Sunday night, neither the White House nor the Department of War had issued a formal statement explaining the reasoning behind the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Oregon.
