Will Maryland National Guard Riot Control Force Stifle Protests, Elections?
A National Guard spokesperson explained that these on-call units have existed for about two decades in all U.S. states and territories, serving as a ready response force for governors.
Before the midterm elections, a senior military official sent a directive requiring each state and territory’s National Guard to create a reaction unit capable of handling crowd and riot control situations. In response, the Maryland National Guard informed its personnel that this was a top priority and that several hundred soldiers must be ready to mobilize by April.
However, former service members and lawmakers expressed concern that this reaction force might suppress lawful protests or intimidate voters in future elections. A public safety analyst told The Baltimore Sun that deploying the National Guard for crime control is unusual, expensive, and ill-advised.
Across major U.S. cities, “No Kings” protests have emerged since President Donald Trump took office, including in Baltimore.
These protests have targeted issues like rising health care costs in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed by Congress this summer, as well as the ongoing federal government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history.
At various times, President Trump has also sought to use the National Guard to quell demonstrations, as seen during the clashes in Portland near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
Author’s Summary
The Maryland National Guard’s new crowd-control mission raises concerns over suppressing dissent and escalating tensions amid the broader climate of political unrest.