The Pentagon has ordered National Guard units nationwide to complete civil unrest training as it creates a 23,500-member “reaction force” to respond to domestic protests, according to internal documents reviewed by The Washington Post. The move follows President Donald Trump’s vow to send National Guard troops and potentially “more than the National Guard” into U.S. cities.
The documents say the reaction force would be operational by April 1, while a separate 200-member federal “quick reaction force” would be trained and ready by Jan. 1.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The quick reaction force would be able to respond within 24 hours, with a first wave deployable in just eight, The Post reported.
According to planning documents, these troops, drawn from units specializing in chemical, biological and nuclear incidents, must train for civil unrest and be equipped with Tasers, pepper spray and crowd-control gear.
The larger group will draw National Guard troops from all 50 states and three territories. It is also slated to complete civil disturbance training.
By April 1, it is expected to comprise 23,500 total members, with most states contributing 500 personnel.
How does this fit into current deployments and the law?
Trump has mobilized the Guard in cities like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Memphis. However, his attempts to send units to Chicago and Portland have been blocked by court orders.
In public remarks, Trump has been assertive about his authority, telling reporters on Tuesday, “I could send the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. I could send anybody I wanted,” and vowing to U.S. service members in Japan that “we’re going to have safe cities.”
Whether those troops can perform law enforcement duties depends on how they are activated.
Guard troops placed under direct federal control, often called Title 10 status, are generally barred from domestic law enforcement by the Posse Comitatus Act unless the president invokes the Insurrection Act or under certain other narrowly defined circumstances.
Under a different status known as Title 32, Guard members remain under their governor’s command but are federally funded and, in practice, have supported policing missions, often in the wake of natural disasters.
What legal and political challenges are unfolding?
The administration’s deployment plans face significant legal hurdles.
In the dispute over sending troops to Chicago, the Supreme Court has requested more information, delaying a decision until at least mid-November. In a separate case involving Portland, a federal appeals court has agreed to rehear the matter, which voids an earlier ruling that had permitted the deployment.
Critics also say the administration’s approach risks blurring the military’s role in domestic politics.
“They are increasing their ability to mobilize National Guard forces, federalize them and use them over the opposition of localities and governors,” said Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute, according to The Post. Schake also warned that prolonged deployments in U.S. cities could strain the traditional balance between the White House, Congress and governors.
While those disputes continue, one active deployment offers a window into how the mission is functioning on the ground.
First Amendment freedoms
Washington, D.C., has sued to end President Trump’s National Guard deployment, saying it is unlawful and causes irreparable harm to the city.
What’s happening in Washington, D.C.?
In Washington, D.C., a separate deployment of about 2,387 Guard members is facing scrutiny, CNN reported. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth extended the mission through February 2026, bypassing a planned November expiration.
According to CNN, the deployment is operating under Title 32 orders, which authorize law enforcement assistance. While President Trump cited fighting crime as the reason for the August mobilization, troops have reportedly spent the last two months on “beautification” tasks such as cleaning parks and picking up trash.
The mission now faces a legal challenge from D.C.’s attorney general and is costing approximately $1 million per day.
CNN also notes that troops have expressed frustration with the open-ended timeline, as many must leave higher-paying civilian jobs to serve.
What’s next
A defense official told The Post that the Pentagon is “revising plans for the employment of [National Guard Reaction Forces] to guarantee their ability to assist federal, state and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances.”
How and where those forces are used will depend in part on the pending court fights in Chicago and Portland, the cost and legal challenges surrounding the long-running D.C. deployment, and how far the administration seeks to press its claim that it can send the National Guard or even “more than the National Guard” into U.S. cities.
