National SecurityConstitutional LawCivil Rights
August 12, 2025Pentagon plans 600-troop force to deploy against US protesters
First permanent federal force designed to suppress civilian demonstrations
The Pentagon plans a permanent 600-troop 'Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force'
The force will be split between Alabama and Arizona bases for one-hour deployment to any U.S. city
It's the first standing federal force specifically designed to suppress civilian demonstrations
It costs hundreds of millions in new facilities and training
No standing armies for domestic protest control have existed since the Civil War ended
The one-hour deployment eliminates time for courts to review the legality of intervention
National Guard units will be diverted from disaster response to protest suppression
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