Maryland National Guard Reaction Force and Public Concerns
A National Guard spokesman explained that "these on-call elements have existed for approximately 20 years in every state and territory as a response force available to governors." This statement was made after a senior military official issued a memo before the midterm elections, directing all states and territories to form a reaction force capable of crowd and riot control.
The Maryland National Guard subsequently informed its personnel that this initiative was a top priority, requiring hundreds of soldiers to be prepared for deployment by April.
Concerns About Civil Liberties
Former military personnel and legislators have expressed fears that the newly established reaction force might be used to suppress peaceful protests or intimidate voters during upcoming elections. Supporting these concerns, a public safety expert told The Baltimore Sun that employing the National Guard for crime control is unprecedented, expensive, and ill-advised.
Nationwide Protests and National Guard Usage
Since President Donald Trump assumed office, "No Kings" protests have emerged in many major U.S. cities, including Baltimore. These demonstrations have focused on issues like rising healthcare costs linked to Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress in the summer, and the longest federal government shutdown in history.
At times, President Trump has attempted to deploy the National Guard to suppress protests, such as efforts in Portland to end daily demonstrations outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility that had grown intense.
“These on-call elements have existed for approximately 20 years in every state and territory as a response force available to governors.”
“The use of the National Guard to address crime is unprecedented, costly and unwise.”
Summary: The establishment of a National Guard reaction force in Maryland raises concerns about potential suppression of peaceful protests and voter intimidation amid ongoing nationwide demonstrations and political tensions.