According to the Washington Post, the US Defense Department has ordered rapid response units made up of National Guard members to be prepared to suppress potential civil unrest by early 2026.
In late summer of this year, President Trump instructed Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth to ensure that National Guard units in every state are fully prepared to intervene quickly in the event of civil unrest.
"The Defense Department's newly created 'rapid reaction force' within the National Guard should be trained, equipped with riot control capabilities, and ready for deployment by January 1," the Post asserted.
The US president also expressed interest in creating a permanent rapid response force capable of being deployed anywhere in the country at a moment's notice.
Based on an analysis of the documentation, the publication reports that the total strength of these rapid reaction forces will be approximately 23,500 troops, distributed across all 50 US states and three territories, excluding the District of Columbia. These units are tasked with quickly responding to potential homeland security threats.
Earlier, Congressman Mike Johnson reported that the financial resources allocated to pay US military salaries may soon be insufficient.
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