Proposed National Guard squad could deploy within an hour to tackle unrest

WorldPolitics
12 Aug 2025 • 10:42 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • The Trump administration is reportedly considering a Pentagon plan for a 600-strong National Guard "Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force" to address civil unrest in US cities.
  • This proposed force would be equipped with weapons and riot gear, ready to deploy within an hour, according to documents viewed by the Washington Post.
  • Three hundred would be stationed in Alabama and 300 in Arizona.
  • The proposals follow Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington D.C. to tackle perceived crime, though experts note current crime rates are falling.
  • Documents outlining the plans reportedly acknowledge potential political sensitivities, questions about civil-military balance, and concerns about straining resources for other state emergencies.

IN FULL