Pentagon officials are considering responses if Trump issues controversial directives

Pentagon officials are engaged in informal conversations regarding the Department of Defense’s potential response should Donald Trump issue directives to deploy active-duty troops within the United States and dismiss a significant number of nonpartisan staff members, according to defense officials speaking to CNN.

Trump has indicated a willingness to utilize active-duty military personnel for domestic law enforcement and large-scale deportations, expressing a desire to fill the federal government with loyal supporters while removing what he perceives as corrupt elements within the national security framework.

During his previous administration, Trump had a contentious relationship with many senior military leaders, including retired General Mark Milley, who took measures to restrict Trump’s authority to deploy nuclear weapons while serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president-elect has also consistently criticized U.S. military generals, labeling them as “woke,” “weak,” and “ineffective leaders.”

Officials are currently evaluating various scenarios in anticipation of a significant restructuring at the Pentagon.

“We are all preparing and strategizing for the worst-case scenario, but the truth is we are uncertain about how this will unfold,” remarked one defense official.

The election of Trump has sparked discussions within the Pentagon regarding the implications of a potentially unlawful order from the president, especially if his political appointees within the department do not resist.

“Military personnel are legally obligated to refuse unlawful orders,” stated another defense official. “However, the concern is what follows – will we witness resignations from high-ranking military officials? Or would they perceive that as abandoning their troops?”

At this stage, it remains uncertain who Trump will appoint to lead the Pentagon, although officials anticipate that he and his team will aim to foster a more cooperative relationship with the military compared to his previous administration, according to a former defense official familiar with the first Trump term.

“The rapport between the White House and the Department of Defense was extremely poor, and it is certainly a priority for them to consider how they select individuals for the DoD this time,” the former official noted.

Defense officials are also working to identify civilian employees who could be affected if Trump reinstates Schedule F, an executive order he initially issued in 2020 that, if implemented, would have reclassified a significant number of nonpolitical, career federal employees, making them more susceptible to dismissal.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed confidence on Tuesday, stating, “I firmly believe that our leaders will continue to act appropriately regardless of the circumstances. I also trust that our Congress will persist in supporting our military effectively.”

Pentagon has limited options

A primary concern for many defense officials is how Trump intends to utilize American military capabilities domestically.

Last month, Trump suggested that the military should be deployed to address what he termed “the internal adversary” and “radical left extremists.”

“I believe it can be effectively managed, if necessary, by the National Guard, or if absolutely required, by the military, because they cannot allow that to occur,” he stated, alluding to possible protests on Election Day.

Numerous former high-ranking military officials who served under Trump have raised alarms in recent years regarding his authoritarian tendencies, including Milley and retired General John Kelly, who was Trump’s chief of staff. Kelly remarked prior to the election that Trump aligns “with the general definition of fascism” and referenced the loyalty exhibited by Hitler’s Nazi generals.

The Pentagon has limited options to proactively protect the military from potential misuse of power by a commander in chief. While Defense Department attorneys can and do advise military leaders on the legality of orders, there are no substantial legal protections to prevent Trump from deploying American troops to enforce order on U.S. streets.

A former senior Defense Department official who worked under Trump indicated that it is probable that more active-duty forces will be assigned to support Customs and Border Protection at the southern border.

There are currently thousands of personnel stationed at the border, comprising active duty members, National Guard, and Reserves. Last year, the Biden administration deployed 1,500 active duty troops, followed by the addition of several hundred more.

According to a former official, there is a possibility that forces could be dispatched to American cities if requested to assist with the mass deportation strategy frequently mentioned by Trump during his campaign.

He noted that domestic law enforcement agencies lack the necessary manpower, helicopters, trucks, and expeditionary capabilities that the military possesses. However, he stressed that the decision to deploy active-duty forces in American urban areas must be approached with caution.

“You can never downplay that; it’s not something you can dismiss lightly. It is a significant matter,” the former senior official stated. “Yet, it may be the only viable solution to address issues on a larger scale.”

In a separate discussion, an Army official indicated that a Trump administration might consider sending several thousand additional troops to bolster the border mission, but cautioned that this could negatively impact the military’s readiness to confront foreign threats.

The president’s authority is particularly extensive if he opts to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows for the deployment of troops domestically under specific circumstances related to the defense of constitutional rights.

Additionally, the Posse Comitatus Act aims to limit military involvement in law enforcement unless Congress grants authorization. However, this law includes exceptions for situations involving rebellion and terrorism, providing the president with considerable discretion regarding the invocation of the Insurrection Act.

Reports suggest that Trump contemplated invoking this Act in 2020 to address protests following George Floyd’s death.

“If a city or state fails to take necessary actions to protect the lives and property of its residents, I will deploy the United States military to swiftly resolve the issue for them,” he stated at that time.

Civilian Employees Facing Uncertainty

In a video released last year, Trump stated that if he were to be elected, he would “promptly re-issue my 2020 Executive Order that reinstates the President’s power to dismiss rogue bureaucrats…we will eliminate all corrupt individuals within our National Security and Intelligence framework, and there are many.”

The Pentagon is already preparing for potential changes in policy.

“My inbox has been flooded with inquiries regarding this issue,” remarked one defense official concerning Schedule F. “It’s certainly going to be a hectic few months.”

Following Trump’s initial implementation of Schedule F late in his previous term, the Pentagon and other federal agencies were instructed to compile lists of employees who would be categorized under this designation. At that time, defense officials aimed to minimize the number of civilian employees affected to mitigate workforce disruption, according to sources. The department is currently engaged in similar preparations.

In April, the Office of Personnel and Management introduced a regulation intended to enhance protections for federal employees. However, a defense official noted that “there are still avenues a new administration could exploit to circumvent these safeguards,” even if it may require several months to execute.

Austin has consistently expressed concerns regarding the potential for political misuse of the military. In a memo issued in July, he emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity and continuity of the civilian workforce, stating that Department of Defense career civilian employees must be protected from unlawful and inappropriate political influences, just as their uniformed colleagues are.

He further noted that career civil servants have a responsibility to uphold strict political neutrality, prioritizing their allegiance to the Constitution and the laws of the United States.

In a message to military personnel on Wednesday, he reaffirmed that the US military will follow only lawful orders.

“The US military will continue to be prepared to implement the policy decisions of its next Commander in Chief and to adhere to all lawful directives from its civilian leadership,” he stated. “You represent the United States military—the most exceptional fighting force in the world—and you will persist in safeguarding our nation, our Constitution, and the rights of every citizen.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken communicated to State Department employees in an email on Friday that he would convey to the incoming Trump administration that “you are all patriots.”

This message, which was shared with CNN, recognized that “transitions can create uncertainty and provoke questions about the future of our global work, the State Department itself, and its personnel.”

This statement appears to be particularly significant, considering that during Trump’s first impeachment, several top career officials at the State Department were targeted, leading to a notable exodus of career diplomats during his initial term.