Connecticut National Guard Forms Quick Reaction Force After Trump Order

The Connecticut National Guard is getting ready to follow a Trump administration order that asks all states to send troops to a newly expanded national “quick reaction force.” This group would respond fast to civil unrest. News of this plan, which came out through leaked federal memos, has stirred up debate across the state—from Hartford to New Haven—about what it means for civil liberties and the Guard’s usual state-focused role.

Understanding the Quick Reaction Force Plan

The memos lay out a plan for National Guard units in every state to train certain soldiers in riot control tactics. Training covers the use of batons, shields, stun guns, and pepper spray—gear usually seen during big protests or public disturbances.

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Connecticut officials haven’t said how many Guard members they might assign to this force. Other states have floated numbers around 500 troops, so that’s a likely ballpark.

Details from Connecticut’s National Guard

Major Michael J. Wilcoxson, who speaks for the Connecticut National Guard, said the state is working on a compliance plan in response to the directive. This plan will lay out how local units—from Stamford to Waterbury—fit this new national requirement into their training and readiness routines.

Criticism from Civil Liberties Advocates

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut (ACLU-CT) hasn’t held back in criticizing the directive. Executive Director David McGuire sees the plan as a big step up in federal involvement in how protests get handled, especially in Democratic-led places like Bridgeport and Middletown.

McGuire worries this could be part of a broader push by former President Trump to “federalize” the National Guard, which usually answers to the state.

Calling for State-Level Control

McGuire wants Governor Ned Lamont to sign an executive order that restates Connecticut’s control over its Guard. He’s also asking the governor to turn down deployments that seem to serve federal political goals instead of local security needs in cities like Norwalk, Danbury, and New London.

Federal Perspective on Deployment

The leaked memos tie back to a Trump-era executive order that tells the Pentagon to keep troops ready for quick deployment across the country. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has admitted there are several layers of Guard response forces.

He hasn’t shared many details about how the plan will work or how far it might go.

Reaction Forces: Not Entirely New

The Connecticut National Guard points out that quick reaction forces aren’t a brand new idea. In the past, they’ve been called up for things like natural disasters, big public events, or emergencies.

Still, McGuire argues this directive marks a real expansion of the Guard’s domestic job—maybe shifting its focus from disaster relief in towns like Torrington or East Hartford to crowd control in more politically charged moments.

Key Takeaways for Connecticut Residents

For people across the state, all this raises questions about transparency, accountability, and who really calls the shots—the state or the federal government. Some see this as a test of Connecticut’s leadership and its grip on its own Guard units.

Training scope: Riot control tactics include batons, shields, stun guns, and pepper spray.
Estimated force size: Around 500 troops, if Connecticut follows other states’ examples.
Authority concerns: Possible shift from state to federal command.
ACLU-CT’s stance: Push for a state-level executive order to reject politicized deployments.
Historical context: Quick reaction forces have been used before, mostly for disaster response.

Looking Ahead

Connecticut’s compliance plan is starting to take shape. Folks in towns from Greenwich to Manchester are watching with a mix of curiosity and concern.

The national debate about the Guard’s role in civil unrest isn’t going away anytime soon. Washington’s directives keep the conversation alive, for better or worse.

Local leaders and everyday people face a tricky balancing act. They want to keep everyone safe but don’t want to sacrifice state authority or civil liberties in the process.

Stay connected with local news updates as this story keeps unfolding. It’s touching communities big and small all over Connecticut.

Here is the source article for this story: CT National Guard complying with Trump order to create new ‘quick reaction force’

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