Washington (AP) — Military leaders have ordered the National Guard in every state to develop a quick reaction force of troops trained to deal with civil disturbances and riots that can be ready to deploy within hours. This directive is part of the ongoing strategy of the Trump administration to enable quicker military responses to domestic issues.
This month, memos were circulated instructing Guard units across all 50 states and U.S. territories—excluding the District of Columbia—to establish trained contingents specifically for handling civil unrest. These specialized forces will be trained in the use of batons, shields, stun guns, and pepper spray.
According to Major Gen. Ronald Burkett, operations director for the National Guard, the memos detail maintenance requirements for quick reaction forces, estimating a combined total of over 23,000 troops to be operational nationwide. D.C. will also maintain its own specialized military police battalion of 50 actively duty National Guard soldiers.
This initiative is part of President Trump’s vision for a more active military role in addressing illegal immigration and crime in cities, a practice that has encountered resistance from local leaders and legal challenges in several instances.
The memos, first reported by The Guardian, come after an executive order signed by Trump in August, directing the Pentagon to create quick reaction forces from the National Guard for rapid deployment nationwide. This order has been referenced as a basis for the current memo, though the Pentagon did not immediately return requests for clarification.
The traditional role of the National Guard has involved quick responses mainly to natural disasters, but these new quick reaction forces will undergo specialized training that enables speedier deployment to civil disorders.
Recent guidance mandates that these quick reaction forces can accomplish deployment of a quarter of their troops within eight hours, with all assigned units ready to mobilize within a day.
During a recent roundtable at the White House with homeland security officials, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the existence of National Guard response forces but did not disclose specific details about the response protocols, asserting constitutional deployment capabilities when necessary.
Though the Trump administration has previously sent the National Guard into cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., these deployments have faced various legal hurdles, delaying plans, particularly in areas like Chicago and Portland.
The memos demand that each state's quick reaction forces be fully operational by January 1, 2026, with the National Guard Bureau supplying equipment and trainers to facilitate this goal.
Training will cover critical aspects such as crowd management and the non-lethal use of force, emphasizing preparedness to responsibly manage potential civil disturbances.
