What is the National Guard deployment (and other domestic uses of the military)?
In recent months, the National Guard has been deployed in major U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, Portland, and Los Angeles, in response to disputed concerns about crime and protest. Federal leaders have threatened additional deployments. These moments reflect a growing trend: the use—or threatened use—of federal military power in domestic situations that have traditionally fallen under local or state control.
Many of these deployments, though not all, have been justified through a broad application of Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which allows the president to deploy troops to stop an “invasion by a foreign nation,” combat a "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion." Local authorities have often disputed that justification and, in some cases, challenged it in court. Other deployments, like those in D.C., have been carried out by an equally broad interpretation of Title 32, which allows federal funding for National Guard troops to perform “other duty” that serves no training purpose, including “operations or missions” requested by the President or Secretary of Defense.1
Though framed as isolated responses to crises, together these actions mark a shift in how political leaders use military power at home, raising serious questions about the rule of law, federal overreach, and the balance of authority that underpins American democracy. In recent years, this boundary has blurred further, with the National Guard increasingly used in roles traditionally reserved for local law enforcement.
What is the National Guard’s role?
The National Guard is a reserve force designed to assist in times of emergency: natural disasters, national security crises, and moments of civil unrest that exceed local capacity. Guard units are typically activated by state governors, although the President can “federalize” them in certain cases, bringing them under national command. This is typically only done to support Active Duty forces for overseas deployments or in the rare domestic cases where a local governor refuses—or is unable—to enforce federal laws.
That authority exists within a delicate and often ambiguous legal framework meant to preserve local, or civilian, control. The Posse Comitatus Act limits the use of the military in civilian law enforcement. The Insurrection Act provides exceptions, but uses vague language that has historically been vulnerable to misuse. Legal experts across the political spectrum have warned that these ambiguities invite overreach and can erode the balance between federal and state authority.
When deployed domestically, the National Guard is meant to support—not replace—local authorities. Yet that line has increasingly blurred, as National Guard units in recent months have been used to police protests, manage immigration, and enforce public order.
Why does this matter now?
Domestic military deployments are becoming more frequent and politically charged. What once were rare responses to true emergencies are now being invoked to manage civic tension or unrest, blurring the line between military and civilian authority that has long defined American democracy.
Each new use of these exceptions chips away at long-standing safeguards, making future deployments easier to justify and eroding public trust.
Normalizing military involvement in civilian life risks escalation and normalizes force as a response to disagreement. While Americans across the political spectrum worry about crime, most remain skeptical that military deployments are the right solution, viewing them as political theater rather than a genuine public-safety measure.
Why should Jewish communities care?
Jewish history teaches us what happens when power goes unchecked and civilian authority gives way to militarization. Deploying the military for domestic law enforcement invites overreach from forces not trained for community safety, diverts the National Guard from its true purpose, and normalizes a dangerous precedent in which armed force becomes a political tool rather than a last resort.
For Jewish communities, these risks are not abstract. When democratic institutions weaken, minorities and dissenters often face the earliest and harshest consequences. Jewish tradition calls us to seek both safety and justice, reminding us that real security comes not from soldiers in our streets but from the trust, accountability, and rule of law that sustain a healthy democracy.
Why can be done?
LEARN → Educate yourself and your community about the National Guard’s legal role and limitations.
The Chamberlain Network offers accessible resources on military readiness, civilian-military relations, and the risks of politicizing the military—including its Politicization of the Military tracker.
Understand the legal frameworks at stake, especially the First Amendment, the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act.
Follow credible, nonpartisan sources, like Protect Democracy, that track the use of the Guard and other military resources and their legal implications.
SPEAK → All members of the American Jewish community can model clarity, empathy, and conviction. Use values-based messaging that both validates public concern and redirects it toward effective, democratic solutions:
Acknowledge legitimate fears about public safety—it’s important to validate, not dismiss.
Challenge assumptions with facts. The presence of troops doesn’t necessarily mean they’re needed. Civilian solutions are often more effective and less risky.
The military is the wrong tool for the job. National Guard members are trained for combat and national emergencies, not policing, and their deployment can escalate rather than calm tensions.
When troops are diverted to domestic roles, they’re less available for disasters and true national emergencies.
Respect those who serve. Forcing the National Guard into political conflicts at home undermines morale, recruitment, and the integrity of their service.
Evidence shows that community-based initiatives, prevention programs, and trusted local law enforcement keep people safer than militarization ever can.
ACT →Join tomorrow’s webinar, Guardrails & the Guard: What Jewish Communities Should Know About National Guard Deployments and Democratic Norms — Thursday, November 6, 2025, 3:30–4:30 PM.
