Trump stuns with secret military doomsday plans that would have troops ready to invade U.S. cities at any time
Donald Trump is planning a secret military ‘reaction force’ that would have hundreds of National Guard troops on standby to deploy into American cities facing protests or civil unrest.
The administration is mulling the creation of a ‘Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force’ that could be ready at a moment’s notice.
Internal Pentagon documents call for 600 troops to be ready at all times to deploy to American cities within approximately one hour, according to a report by the Washington Post.
Troops would be split between the east and west of the Mississippi River at military bases in Alabama and Arizona.
National Guard officials reportedly began drafting the plan between late July and early August.
The Pentagon’s latest proposal comes at a time when the Trump administration has proved willing to deploy armed forces into major American cities to put down civil unrest.
On Monday, Trump said he is federalizing the D.C. police and deploying the National Guard to the nation’s capital to curb violent crime.
Over 800 National Guard troops are expected to arrive on the ground in the city later today and throughout the evening, according to reports.
The plan is estimated to cost the Defense Department hundreds of millions of dollars if the Pentagon utilizes military aircrafts and aircrews to be ready around-the-clock.
Earlier this year, Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to California to quell protests in Los Angeles
Trump said on Monday he is federalizing DC police and deploying the National Guard to curb crime in the Capital.
The documents estimate that the rapid response force would cost hundreds of millions
The documents suggest that troop transportation via commercial airlines would be less expensive.
The report indicates that all documents are marked predecisional but contain comprehensive discussions regarding the societal implications of creating the program.
Traditionally, the National Guard has fast-response teams prepared for their individual states; however, Trump’s new proposal calls for transporting troops between different states.
The documents estimate the earliest the program could be created is the fiscal year of 2027 with funding coming from the Pentagon’s annual budget.
Earlier this year, Trump deployed over 5,000 National Guard troops along with active-duty Marines to the Los Angeles area to quell protests denouncing his administration’s immigration policies.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders denounced Trump’s mobilization of military troops.
Newsom and the Trump administration are involved in a lawsuit over the matter that is currently pending appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court.
Title 10 of the United States Code authorizes the commander-in-chief to put troops under his direction, allowing them to be deployed to support law enforcement but not perform official arrests.
Trump has appeared more willing than prior presidents to use armed troops to put down civil unrest on American soil
However, Title 32 places control of National Guard troops under their governor while troops receive funding from the federal government. This federal-state status gives troops more authority to participate in law enforcement missions.
Under the Pentagon’s new plan, the president would be allowed to mobilize troops under Title 32 amid civil unrest without the approval of the state’s governor.
