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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Zack Palomo

Pete Hegseth doesn’t dispute plans to have ‘crowd control’ troops in every state ahead of 2026 midterms

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth didn’t deny reported plans to have National Guard ‘response force’ in every state ahead of the 2026 midterms.

During a conference on Thursday (23 October), a reporter asked Hegseth about  a memo circulating on social media detailing, “the establishment of a National Guard response force that will be trained in crowd control and civil unrest  deployed in all 50 states by April of 2026”.

“ I'm not gonna answer particulars on something that may be in the planning process,” the defense secretary responded.

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