Congress Must Stop The National Guard Quick Reaction Force

Stop The National Guard Quick Reaction Force I’m writing to urge you to stop a new Pentagon plan that tells every state to create National Guard “quick reaction forces” for crowd control. A leaked October memo directs about 500 troops per state, trained with batons, shields, tasers, and pepper spray, with a quarter deployable in 8 hours and full readiness by early 2026. That would push the Guard toward policing our communities instead of handling disasters and emergencies. Protect The Line Between Military And Police America separates the military from policing for a reason. Soldiers are not trained to referee protests or patrol neighborhoods. Permanent riot-control units in every state would normalize military roles at home, invite political misuse, and chill lawful speech. Our laws reflect this caution. The Posse Comitatus tradition limits federal troops in law enforcement, and the Insurrection Act is meant for rare, clearly defined crises. Demand Oversight And The Full Record Please issue a statement opposing this plan and request the memo, rules of engagement, monthly progress reports, and equipment lists from the National Guard Bureau and the Pentagon. Hold prompt hearings with Guard leaders, Pentagon counsel, civil liberties experts, and state adjutants general to examine command authority (Title 32 vs. Title 10), the role of governors, safeguards for protest and elections, costs, training time, and impacts on disaster readiness. Set Clear Legal Guardrails Now Add limits to the next defense bills: bar funding for Guard quick reaction forces aimed at civil disturbances; require state consent and public reporting for any domestic deployment; and forbid federalized Guard from routine policing except under narrow, time-limited emergencies that Congress must review. Back the Insurrection Act of 2025 (S.2070/H.R.4076) to require rapid congressional approval and court review for domestic troop use. Support the National Guard Proper Use Act (H.R.5604) to prevent mission creep into immigration enforcement and other policing roles. Invest instead in proven public safety: de-escalation training, mental health response, emergency management, and interstate mutual-aid. A Simple Principle Keep soldiers out of civilian policing. Protect the Guard’s disaster mission, our constitutional rights, and the authority of governors. Please act now to block this plan and replace it with transparent, lawful, community-first safety policy.