Trump executive order expands Guard role in domestic policing

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to establish specialized National Guard units in Washington and every state to quell civil disturbances, raising new questions about the military’s role in domestic law enforcement.

The order formalizes the creation of “quick reaction” Guard forces dedicated to “ensuring public safety and order.” It follows Trump’s declaration of a “crime emergency” in Washington, where he has already deployed thousands of Guard troops over the objections of local officials, despite the city’s historically low crime rates. Trump has openly discussed extending deployments to Democratic-led cities such as New York, Chicago, and Baltimore.

Critics warn the order undermines the principle of civilian policing and risks eroding constitutional protections. Trump has previously invoked Section 12406 of Title 10 to federalize Guard units, including a contested deployment of 4,000 California troops, which sparked an ongoing legal fight. The new order goes further by empowering the White House to call up Guard forces even if state and local authorities are not overwhelmed.

The directive also tasks adviser Stephen Miller with creating an online portal to recruit civilians with law enforcement experience to bolster federal agents enforcing the president’s “crime emergency” in Washington.

As of Sunday, more than 2,200 Guard troops are deployed in DC, according to the New York Times, most drawn from units in other states. Some have now been armed for patrols, an uncommon practice in domestic missions, where the Guard typically handles logistics or disaster response.