Trump Tests Legal Limits With Domestic Guard Deployments

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – President Donald Trump’s latest bid to deploy National Guard personnel on U.S. soil over local opposition is triggering a new conflict with blue state governors that is playing out in the courts.

Local authorities, Trump says, have failed to safeguard communities, giving several Democrat-led cities as examples. He’s called Portland “war ravaged” and a “war zone” that is “burning down” and like “living in hell.”

However, the nearly 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act limits the military’s role in enforcing domestic laws, reflecting America’s long-standing belief that law enforcement should remain in civilian hands.

Trump said though, that he would be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act if necessary. It allows the president to dispatch active-duty military in states that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying federal law.

“If I had to enact it — I’d do that,” Trump said. “If people were being killed, and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up.” He added: “We have to make sure our cities are safe.”

Of note, Trump is ostensibly seeking to use troops to protect federal property and personnel, not to enforce civil laws.

Meanwhile, National Guard members from Texas are at an Army training center in Illinois, the most visible sign yet of the Trump administration’s plan to send troops to the Chicago area despite a lawsuit and vigorous opposition from Democratic elected leaders.

National Guard troops could also be in Memphis by Friday as the Trump administration pushes ahead with an aggressive policy toward big-city crime.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

HOMELAND SECURITY

In July, stakeholder outcry scuttled a DHS plan to slash the staff of its Office of Intelligence and Analysis. Now DHS is trying again—with buyouts and early retirement offers.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Pentagon has clarified that credentialed journalists will not need approval from DOD officials before publishing articles with information not officially released.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the establishment of a Pentagon-run barracks initiative, giving a new Barracks Task Force 30 days to come up with an “investment plan” to improve troop housing.

CHINA THREAT

The nominee to become the Pentagon’s senior civilian official in charge of the Indo-Pacific testified that allies need to step up their efforts to counter the growing threat of China while stating the U.S. should maintain “combat-credible” forces and strong investments in the region.

Pentagon official suggested the Trump administration could redefine defense deals with Taiwan and alter the AUKUS security arrangement with Australia and the UK to make it more “sustainable.”

Japan holds minelaying drills around strategic islands near Taiwan. Japan’s largest minelayer practiced defending a chain of strategic islands in what Tokyo described as a demonstration of “determination not to allow unilateral changes to the status quo by force.”

Pentagon’s recent decision to terminate Microsoft’s use of China-based engineers to support its cloud systems should shock no one. ProPublica’s investigation simply confirmed that foreign engineers had indirect access to some of our most sensitive networks, and DOD let it happen.

RUSSIA THREAT

Central and northern European countries have been subjected to more than 40 recent drone incursions, primarily directed at NATO’s staunchest opponents of Russia.

UK Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets were again deployed to conduct air defense patrols over eastern Poland, marking just one of many short-notice sorties under NATO’s Eastern Sentry framework in recent weeks.

New ‘bulged’ Neptune cruise missile variant. Ukraine has unveiled a new version of its Neptune cruise missile, which appears to have added fuel tank ‘bulges’ for increased range.

A European-made rocket tailored to destroying Shahed-series long-range one-way attack drones is being used in Ukraine. The 70-millimeter (2.75-inch) laser-guided rocket from Thales is broadly similar to the U.S.-made Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) but has an FZ123 airburst warhead that disperses a cloud of thousands of steel pellets.

Russian regions are dramatically increasing the amount of money they pay to new military recruits as analysts say ideological recruitment campaigns are no longer enough to motivate people to fight in Ukraine.

A Ukrainian drone struck a cooling tower of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (NNPP), located about 100 miles north of the border. It was the fourth nuclear power facility in the region to have munitions land on or very close to it in the past two weeks.

MIDDLE EAST THREATS

Just surrender. Hamas seeks ‘guarantees’ that Israel will end Gaza war as talks continue. Hamas and Israel have concluded a second day of indirect negotiations on Trump’s proposal to end the war on Gaza.

Gaza ceasefire talks live: U.S., Turkey and Qatar join efforts as negotiations enter third day.

SPACE THREATS

The number of satellites projected to be launched over the next decade will dwarf the number of those now on orbit — but even though the bulk of those new birds will be owned by commercial and civil government entities, it is the defense sector that will “anchor” the market through 2034.

Space Force has awarded Blue Origin a $78.2 million contract to expand satellite processing capacity at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Britain’s space security needs more than government funding. Its reservoirs of capital are deep, but its attitude towards defense is hesitant. This has to change.

UK’s Reaper drones give way to new NATO-focused fleet of Protector drone aircraft. U.K. has flown its MQ-9A drones for the last time, closing out an era of Middle East operations as it prepares to field new U.S.-built unmanned aircraft designed for Europe’s modern threats.

UK Carrier Strike Group and the Indian Navy Vikrant Carrier Strike Group are conducting a dual carrier exercise for the first time, operating together in the Western Indian Ocean.

UK’s MOD publishes report on responsible military AI by embedding ethical governance across its use of AI.

Italy is ready to use an EU-devised accounting trick to help boost its defense budget by $14 billion, as it tries to meet tough new NATO spending targets.

India has a festival where a Hindu goddess slays a demon. This year the demon is Trump.

US MILITARY

Navy is moving forward with its F/A-XX sixth-generation stealth fighter program, with a winner potentially announced as soon as this week.

Northrop Grumman says past work on the abortive 25mm XM25 grenade launcher, “The Punisher,” served as an “initial baseline” for a new design with Colt. The Northrop Grumman-Colt launcher is being developed to meet the Army’s requirements for a future Precision Grenadier System (PGS).

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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