Gov. Tina Kotek has joined other Democratic governors across the country rebuking the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops.

The letter from the governors to the Trump administration comes at a time when the president has already deployed National Guard troops to cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., for domestic law enforcement.

And it comes on the heels of the president’s statement that he had complete control of the National Guard, noting he has the “right to do anything I want” when it comes to the troops.

A group of 19 Democratic governors signed on to the letter.

“Instead of actually addressing crime, President Trump cut federal funding for law enforcement that states rely on and continues to politicize our military by trying to undermine the executive authority of governors as commanders in chief of their state’s National Guard,” the governors wrote.

A spokesman for Kotek’s office said the governor has received no indication the federal government would attempt to commandeer the state’s National Guard for any deployments that have not already been planned.

Oregon lawmakers approve measure to limit National Guard deployment by the federal government

During the long 2025 legislative session, the Oregon House approved a measure that would have clarified when the Oregon National Guard could be deployed for federal service. The bill died in the state Senate.

Democratic Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, who is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, pushed the measure and said had it passed it would have given the state more influence had Trump tried to deploy troops.

“Deploying National Guard troops to perform law enforcement operations, or worse, putting National Guard on display for partisan reasons is deplorable,” Evans said. He had hoped the measure, House Bill 3954, would have provided the governor “with an additional tool to prevent the politicization of our Oregon National Guard.”

Lori Chavez-DeRemer hopes for Trump administration ‘crackdown’ in Portland

The city of Portland is no stranger to having National Guard members patrol the streets. During the 2020 racial justice protests, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown activated members of the National Guard to assist local and state police.

Trump is targeting Democrat-led cities across the nation, and not only with the possibility of deploying National Guard members, but also from immigration enforcement officers.

Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, said federal officials plan to increase raids in “sanctuary cities,” of which Portland is one.

Trump suggests Portland and more US cities need National Guard but crime stats tell a different story

Immigration arrests have increased since Trump took office. Earlier this week, Oregon’s only Cabinet member invited a more robust federal crackdown on the city of Portland.

U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said she was “expecting a crackdown” in Oregon as the administration continues its widespread deportation efforts.

“Thank you for what you’re doing with your agents on ICE,” said Chavez-DeRemer, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “And thank you for the prosecution. I hope you will come to Portland, Oregon, and crack down.”

Federal immigration authorities are already operating in the city of Portland, as they have for years.

It’s not clear if Chavez-DeRemer was calling for the National Guard in Portland. Her office did not respond to a request for comment from OPB.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/29/oregon-kotek-democratic-governors-trump-letter/