Raja Krishnamoorthi’s Bill Tries To Curb Trump Military Overreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sharp rebuke of what he calls an alarming abuse of presidential power, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) has introduced new legislation aimed squarely at President Donald Trump’s handling of domestic protests during his time in office.

Titled the Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act, the bill seeks to amend the centuries-old Insurrection Act to prevent any future president from unilaterally deploying active-duty military forces against peaceful protests—unless specifically requested by a state governor or local authority.

The move is a direct response to Trump’s controversial decision to send U.S. Marines to Los Angeles despite no formal request from California’s leadership. Krishnamoorthi, joined by Reps. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA), said the bill is designed to restore the constitutional balance of power and protect the rights of American citizens.

“No American President should be able to unilaterally deploy active-duty troops against citizens who are exercising their right to peaceful protest,” Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. “After watching President Trump send United States Marines into Los Angeles, it’s clear we need to strengthen the guardrails of our democracy to hold this administration—and any future administration—accountable.”

The congressman also cited Trump’s efforts to ramp up ICE deportations in Chicago, Krishnamoorthi’s home state, and what he described as calls for a “militarized crackdown” on dissent, as additional reasons for urgent legislative reform.

Under the proposed bill, the President would be explicitly barred from ordering federal troops into any U.S. state or territory to respond to peaceful assemblies unless the local executive—typically the governor—makes an official request. The legislation is framed as a constitutional safeguard designed to uphold the First Amendment and avoid the kind of federal overreach that critics say defined parts of Trump’s presidency.