1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern and opposition to the National Guard's plan to develop 'quick reaction forces' (QRFs) for deployment in U.S. cities by January 2026. This alarming initiative, detailed in a leaked memo viewed by Task & Purpose, represents an unprecedented and dangerous militarization of domestic law enforcement. The plan, which stems from President Trump's August 25 Executive Order, would create QRFs in each state, Puerto Rico, and Guam, with most states having 500 troops trained in crowd control and civil disturbance. These forces would receive specialized training in nonlethal weapons and civil disturbance management, including the use of body shields, batons, tasers, and pepper spray against American civilians. This development marks a significant and troubling shift for the National Guard. While the Guard has traditionally responded to natural disasters or provided limited assistance to law enforcement, the creation of dedicated units for responding to civilian activities crosses a line that threatens our civil liberties and the fundamental principles of our democracy. The use of military forces for domestic law enforcement blurs the crucial distinction between military and civilian roles, potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act and eroding public trust in both our military and our government. It risks escalating tensions in civil disturbances rather than de-escalating them, and could lead to unnecessary violence and loss of life. I urge you to take immediate action to halt the implementation of this plan. We need to maintain a clear separation between military and domestic law enforcement, protect civil liberties, and address the root causes of civil unrest through community-based solutions and reforms. Please oppose any legislation or funding that would support this initiative and work to rescind the Executive Order that set it in motion. The deadline for these forces to be operational is January 1, 2026. We must act now to prevent this militarization of our cities and protect our constitutional rights. Our democracy depends on your swift and decisive action to keep the National Guard out of our streets and preserve the principles of civil governance.