President Donald Trump called Monday for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to create a “quick reaction force” made up of National Guard troops that would be available for “rapid nationwide deployment.”

Trump signed an executive order Monday that directed Hegseth to “immediately begin ensuring that each State’s Army National Guard and Air National Guard are resourced, trained, organized, and available to assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances and ensuring the public safety and order whenever the circumstances necessitate, as appropriate under law.”

The National Guard is already trained to be available to assist law enforcement with public safety, often at the request of each state’s governor. In June, Trump federalized California’s National Guard without a request by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom to assist and protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles, as well as protect federal buildings.

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