White House considers domestic deployment force amid unrest fears

The Trump administration is evaluating a plan to establish a Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force comprising 600 National Guard troops.

According to internal Pentagon documents, these troops would be strategically stationed—split evenly between military bases in Alabama and Arizona—to cover regions east and west of the Mississippi River. The force would be on standby to deploy in as little as one hour in response to civil unrest, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The anticipated cost of maintaining such a force could climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars, especially if military aircraft and aircrews are kept on 24/7 standby. The documents suggest using commercial airlines for troop transport as a more cost-effective alternative.

This proposal marks a notable expansion of federal military authority on US soil. It would operate under Title 32, which allows National Guard units to remain under state control while being federally funded and wielding broader authority in law enforcement support. The administration’s plan hinges on this legal framework to bypass traditional restrictions.

The plan’s genesis dates back to the 2020 presidential election, when 600 troops were placed on alert in Arizona and Alabama in anticipation of potential unrest, following the widespread protests triggered by George Floyd’s death. During that time, Trump sought to use active-duty military forces, but Pentagon officials counseled reliance on the National Guard instead.

Should the proposal be enacted, the force would undertake 90-day rotations, with a tiered deployment system: the first 100 troops ready within an hour, subsequent waves within two and twelve hours, or full deployment immediately under high-alert conditions.

Legal and military experts have voiced concern. Joseph Nunn, attorney at the Brennan Center for Justice, criticized the move, warning that it could “normalize routine military participation in law enforcement” and lower the threshold for domestic deployment. Others argue that the mere existence of such a force creates pressure to use it.

Critics also worry about negative institutional effects: frequent deployments may disrupt training, undermine preparedness for natural disasters, strain personnel and equipment, and dilute the Guard’s readiness for foreign contingencies.

By Vafa Guliyeva