Federal authorities announced Friday that President Trump has ordered the deployment of federal troops to Portland, Oregon, saying the personnel will be sent to protect federal courthouses and other government facilities amid ongoing protests. The administration framed the move as necessary to prevent violence and property damage, but local officials and advocacy organizations warned that the presence of troops could escalate confrontations and harm residents’ physical and mental health.

A White House statement said the deployment would include “federal law enforcement and Department of Defense support” tasked with safeguarding federal property and assisting local partners when requested. The statement did not specify numbers or whether active-duty units would operate under the Insurrection Act, a legal authority that has historically permitted the president to use military forces in domestic disturbances.

Oregon’s governor, in a response released shortly after the announcement, called for de-escalation and said state officials were not consulted. Portland’s mayor criticized the order as counterproductive, arguing that a history of aggressive federal intervention in the city had sown deep mistrust between communities and authorities. Civil liberties groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, declared they would explore legal options to challenge any use of force that violates constitutional rights.

Public health experts and community health leaders expressed alarm about the potential health impacts of another militarized federal response. “We know from the last deployment that the presence of federal agents in civilian neighborhoods intensifies trauma, deters people from seeking medical care, and strains community mental health supports,” said Dr. Maria Alvarez, director of a Portland community health clinic that serves predominantly low-income and immigrant patients. Clinics in neighborhoods where protests have clustered reported increased demand for counseling after prior federal operations, and staff say an influx of uniformed personnel could drive people away from essential services.

Homeless shelter operators and harm-reduction advocates warned that campers and people experiencing homelessness would be especially vulnerable. “A militarized approach pushes already marginalized people further into the shadows,” said a leader at a downtown outreach organization. “When people fear arrest or violence, they avoid shelters, health care and testing sites — and that has real consequences for infectious disease control and overall community wellbeing.”

Legal and policy analysts noted that the deployment revives national debates about the appropriate boundary between federal power and local governance. The last major federal deployment to Portland in 2020 prompted litigation, congressional scrutiny and bipartisan concern over anonymity and rules of engagement for agents operating in civilian settings. Advocates for reform say persistent use of force-focused responses fails to address the root causes that fuel protests, including racial injustice and disparities in housing, policing and health care access.

As the city braces for a renewed federal presence, health providers and community groups are mobilizing to expand mental-health services and coordinate with legal observers to protect protesters’ rights. The unfolding deployment underscores a broader dilemma for policymakers: how to balance protection of federal property with the imperative to avoid exacerbating harm in communities already suffering from chronic inequities and public-health vulnerabilities.