Illinois Governor JB Pritzker assembled a distinguished group of retired military generals and veterans in Chicago on Thursday to voice strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Democratic-led cities, a move the military leaders characterized as an unprecedented abuse of presidential power that threatens American democracy.
The gathering brought together former Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Major General William L. Enyart, Major General Randy Manner, Major General Paul Eaton, Lieutenant General Charles Luckey, Rear Admiral Michael E. Smith—CEO of National Security Leaders for America—and Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of the Vet Voice Foundation. Their unified message emphasized that Trump’s actions represent a dangerous departure from constitutional norms and risk politicizing the military.
Since June 2025, the Trump administration has deployed thousands of National Guard troops to multiple U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and Portland—all led by Democratic officials—citing concerns about crime and immigration enforcement.
“This effort to deploy troops in American cities is not normal,” Governor Pritzker stated at Thursday’s press conference. “There is no justification for such a deployment, and it echoes the rise of authoritarian regimes throughout world history. Illinois is not a place you can conquer. And our people are not your subjects. Period.”
The Trump administration has invoked Title 10 U.S. Code Section 12406 to federalize National Guard troops, claiming authority to act when there is “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States” or when “the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.” However, federal judges have increasingly challenged this interpretation.
On October 16, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit unanimously ruled to maintain a block on Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area, concluding that “the facts do not justify” the president’s actions under Title 10.
“Political opposition is not rebellion,” the appeals court wrote, finding “insufficient evidence” that protests in Illinois reached the level required to justify military intervention. The ruling allows approximately 300 Illinois National Guard troops and 200 Texas National Guard troops to remain under federal control but bars them from deploying on Chicago streets.
The retired military leaders at Thursday’s gathering expressed deep concerns about the long-term implications of using servicemembers for political purposes.
“Our National Guard members are trained to defend our nation and to respond to natural disasters. They are not policemen, nor are they political pawns,” said Major General William L. Enyart, U.S. Army, Retired. “We took an oath to the Constitution of this great nation and that’s why I am here today – to stand up to the overreach of the federal government and defend our brave servicemen and women who put their lives on the line for our country and our communities.
“Our military and National Guard are designed for combat and responding to grave emergencies, not community policing. When we blur that line, we risk turning our streets into battlefields and our citizens into potential enemies,” said Major General Randy Manner, U.S. Army, Retired. “If we truly want safe and peaceful cities, we should invest in stronger communities, better policing standards, and more trust between citizens and law enforcement – not troops and tanks.”
“National Security Leaders for America is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Governor Pritzker against the improper use of the armed forces – including our National Guard – on the streets of American cities to do jobs they weren’t trained for and didn’t sign up for,” said Rear Admiral Michael E. Smith, U.S. Navy, Retired. “The politicization of American heroes who volunteer to serve and protect all Americans – Republican or Democrat – has no place in our great country.”
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 specifically prohibits the use of federal military forces for law enforcement purposes, with limited exceptions including the Insurrection Act of 1807.
The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy active-duty military forces domestically for law enforcement, but only under specific circumstances such as insurrection, rebellion, or when constitutional rights are being threatened. While Trump has threatened to invoke this law, he has not yet done so. Vice President JD Vance stated in an October 12 interview that Trump was “looking at all his options” regarding the Insurrection Act but “hasn’t deemed it necessary” at this time.
The Trump administration has justified troop deployments by characterizing targeted cities as plagued by out-of-control crime. However, official crime statistics contradict these claims. In Chicago, murder rates were down 29% through the end of September 2025 compared to the previous year, with overall crime decreasing by 13%. Washington D.C. saw violent crime fall to a 30-year low in 2024. Memphis crime rates reached a 25-year low according to local police data.
Despite these statistics, Trump has repeatedly characterized cities as “hellholes” requiring military intervention. The Illinois lawsuit argues that Trump’s threats regarding Chicago date back over a decade, citing a 2013 tweet in which he suggested deploying troops to the city, undermining claims of a sudden emergency.
The military leaders discussed the personal toll on National Guard members, who serve as citizen-soldiers with full-time civilian jobs and families. Unlike active-duty military personnel, National Guard members typically serve one weekend per month and two weeks per year, with additional deployments for emergencies and overseas missions.
“They also discussed the impact of taking National Guard members—who are citizen-service members—away from their children and communities where they serve important roles on a day-to-day basis,” according to the governor’s office.
