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Politics - US Politics |OT| - View Post

CosmicSex on 26 January 2026
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rapsuperstar31 said:
CosmicSex said:

You mean if they tried to protect its citizens from the federal govemenent executing their citizens.  Actually, to be clear what Minnesota is doing is getting a judge to get ice out of their state (expect this Monday) and also they ARE calling the National Guard to help support the police.   Trump is not taking over anything.  His power is not absolute.  He is just an old man with his own brand of fanboys.  

Trump doesn't follow the rules, and there is no push back from any republicans in the Senate, House, or Supreme Court.

Federal Control of the National Guard

Presidential Authority

While the National Guard prioritizes its state-level missions, there are instances where control shifts to the federal level. The President of the United States has the authority to federalize the National Guard under specific circumstances. This shift in control places Guard units under the same organizational chain of command as the active-duty military, making the Secretary of Defense their immediate overseer.

Federal control is most commonly exercised:

  • During wartime or military deployments to support overseas missions.
  • To enforce federal laws when local and state authorities cannot manage the situation (often requiring congressional approval).
  • When there is a national emergency that exceeds the state's capacity to manage.

For instance:

  • Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, National Guard forces were federalized to bolster homeland security efforts.
  • Units were deployed internationally to support combat operations during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • Federalizing the National Guard dramatically changes its operational priorities, focusing entirely on national security over state-specific concerns.

Who controls the National Guard at the federal level? The president of the United States mobilizes the National Guard, but the secretary of defense then controls them.

Right but the Act that established the Natuonal Guard and the president's ability to nationalize it come with a set of criteria.   It isnt absolut authority and as such can be challenged through the court system.  It should no be too difficult for MN to get a Stay on any order by the President to federalize the  Guard.