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August 26, 2025

Trump Orders Creation of "Specialized" National Guard Units to Quell Civil Unrest
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President Trump signed an executive order on Monday that would establish
"specialized" National Guard units to be quickly deployed in Washington,
D.C., and all 50 states. Under the order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
will oversee the National Guard assisting local law enforcement in
"quelling civil disturbances." Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center
for Justice said, "Having soldiers police protests, as this order
envisions, threatens fundamental liberties and public safety, and it
violates a centuries-old principle against involving the military in
domestic law enforcement."

This comes just weeks after Trump deployed the National Guard to
Washington, despite the fact that the district's violent crime rate is
at its lowest level in years. Trump has also threatened to send troops
to cities like New York, Baltimore and Chicago. On Monday, Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker joined Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other city
officials to condemn Trump's threats.

Gov. JB Pritzker: "Donald Trump wants to use the military to occupy a
U.S. city, punish his dissidents and score political points. If this
were happening in any other country, we would have no trouble calling it
what it is: a dangerous power grab."



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