South Carolina Guard Deployed Out of State | Columbia News

South Carolina’s top court is now deciding if Governor Henry McMaster overstepped legal limits by sending National Guard troops to Washington D.C. in August 2025 — a move prompted by President Trump’s request for help with street cleanup and crime reduction. Critics, including the ACLU and the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation, argue the governor lacks authority to deploy troops outside state lines for non-emergency, “cosmetic” tasks, pointing out that state law only permits deployments during war, insurrection, or imminent threats — none of which applied in D.C. at the time. The ACLU even called it a “shameful political stunt.” Meanwhile, McMaster’s legal team and the governor himself defend the action, citing historical precedent and arguing no Constitution or federal law restricts such deployments — especially since troops were reportedly barred from actual policing duties. With more potential deployments looming as soon as December, the case could reshape how states respond to presidential requests for military assistance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.abccolumbia.com/2026/09/15/justices-to-determine-if-mcmaster-exceeded-authority-when-sending-sc-national-guard-troops-to-d-c/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7fd0eb5dbf00f9a9 Report issues to [email protected].