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By Hollie Silverman
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North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday about whether deploying the National Guard to cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Chicago is a best practice for public safety.
“Is this deployment of the National Guard a part of an emerging best practice that I just don’t get yet?" Tillis, a Republican, asked.
Bondi first defended the use of the National Guard in Chicago by saying they were there to protect federal buildings before telling Tillis, "I don't believe our National Guard want to be doing now, but they're going to be where they have to be to keep Americans safe."
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration’s practice of deploying National Guard troops to major U.S. cities has sparked a nationwide debate, raising questions about federal intervention in local law enforcement and the separation of powers between state and federal authorities.
This issue came to the forefront during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where Tillis questioned whether the strategy represented best practice or masked deeper leadership failures at the municipal level.
Bondi defended the administration’s approach while declining to reveal internal White House deliberations. The clash underscores growing partisan divisions over how to address crime, civil unrest, and the appropriate use of federal power in American cities.
What To Know
Bondi was asked directly by Tillis whether the National Guard deployment to cities was an emerging best practice for public safety.
Tillis questioned the necessity of deploying military personnel rather than holding local leadership accountable, saying, “Is this deployment of the National Guard a part of an emerging best practice that I just don’t get yet?”
Bondi did not directly address the strategic merits of National Guard deployments or detail any discussions she may have had with President Donald Trump regarding the legal or practical justifications, only saying, "I don't believe our National Guard want to be doing now, but they're going to be where they have to be to keep Americans safe," before talking about the deployment in Memphis.
When pressed by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin about the rationale behind deploying the National Guard despite opposition from Democratic governors, Bondi replied, “I am not going to discuss any internal conversations with the White House.”
She further countered criticism by accusing the Democrat of voting to shut down the government, asserting that federal law enforcement officers were not being paid while safeguarding Democratic-run cities.
“I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump and currently the National Guard are on the way to Chicago. If you’re not going to protect your citizens, President Trump will,” Bondi said.
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The controversy unfolded as cities and states opposed the administration’s actions in federal court. On Sunday preceding the hearing, Illinois and the city of Chicago filed lawsuits to block the National Guard deployment, while a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from sending troops to Oregon. In response, Trump publicly considered invoking the Insurrection Act to bypass legal obstacles and justify further deployments.
The hearing also featured broader discussions around the Justice Department’s independence, the impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown on law enforcement resources, and the department’s handling of high-profile investigations—including those involving Trump’s political critics and allies. Bondi rejected concerns that political pressure from Trump had influenced her or the Justice Department's actions.
Bondi’s testimony highlighted a growing partisan rift in Congress over crime policy, the limits of federal authority, and the balance between ensuring national security and respecting state sovereignty.
What People Are Saying
Senator Thom Tillis, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday: "I'm having a real struggle right now with the National Guard being deployed and masking the abject failure of leaders at the state, local level. So give me some sense of if we if the deployment of the National Guard to Chicago or Portland is necessary to kind of create a shock to the system, you believe that that's a best practice or just a necessary evil, until we reach in the extraordinary work I've seen on Joint Task Forces every day in North Carolina, with absolute cooperation between state, federal and local officials, is that, is that the best practice that we should get to, or is this deployment of the National Guard a part of an emerging best practice that I just don't get yet?"
Attorney General Pam Bondi, responding to Tillis during the hearing: "They're working hand in hand with the Memphis Police Department, who I believe were very happy to have them there, helping them to keep Memphis safe."
Senator Dick Durbin said during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: “What’s the secret? Why do you want to keep this secret to the American people, [who] don’t know the rationale behind the deployment of National Guard troops in my state?”
What Happens Next
Lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard in several cities remain pending in federal court, with a recent ruling having temporarily blocked further deployments to parts of Oregon.
Trump has suggested he may use the Insurrection Act if legal obstacles persist, a move that would escalate federal involvement but carry significant political and legal risks.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to continue its oversight of the Justice Department’s activities, and further congressional debate over the authority and limits of federal intervention in local law enforcement is likely to ensue.
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