Supreme Court Seeks More Briefs Before Ruling on Trump’s Troop Deployment to Chicago

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has asked both the Donald Trump administration and Illinois officials to submit additional legal briefs in the dispute over whether the President may send troops into the Chicago area—a request that pushes any final decision into mid-November at the earliest.

Context & Background

On October 9, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s plan to deploy troops to the Chicago region.

The administration responded by asking the Supreme Court on October 17 to grant authorization for the deployment to proceed.

In its Wednesday order, the Court asked Illinois officials for a response within three days and asked both parties to address a key legal question: what the statute means by the phrase “regular forces” and whether it refers to U.S. military units (rather than just the National Guard) under the relevant federal statute governing presidential power to deploy troops domestically.
What This Means

The Court’s request for additional briefing suggests its justices may be more divided than previously assumed.

Because briefs must be submitted by November 17, any ruling would come after that date.

In the meantime, the deployment remains blocked, keeping federal agents under current constraints.

The Stakes

President Trump has sought to send troops into several U.S. cities—including Chicago, Portland and Washington D.C.—arguing that the National Guard is necessary to protect federal immigration enforcement officers and to assist with violent crime.

Illinois officials counter that local and state law-enforcement agencies are managing protest activities and that there is no credible evidence justifying such a force-wide deployment.

Key Legal Question

The critical legal issue centers on the interpretation of “regular forces” in the statute that empowers the President to call up federal military forces for domestic deployment. The Court’s interest in this issue signals it may examine whether the statute was meant to cover only National Guard units or the broader U.S. military.

What to Watch

The contents of the newly requested briefs: how each side frames the statute and facts.

The timing of any motion or decision following the November 17 briefing deadline.

Whether this ruling sets precedent for presidential authority to deploy troops in other cities or contexts.

How local, state and federal officials respond during the interim while the deployment remains blocked.