What federalizing the National Guard means. Explaining Trump's latest Illinois order

President Donald Trump has authorized 300 National Guard troops for deployment to Illinois, it was announced on Saturday

Published on: Oct 5, 2025, 04:25:53 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

President Donald Trump has authorized 300 National Guard troops for deployment to Illinois, it was announced on Saturday. This comes as the Trump administration has mentioned an alleged rise in crime rates in Chicago and other cities.

Trump's order also casts a net wide against the nebulous group. (REUTERS)

“President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.

In Chicago, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have already stepped up activity, and tensions have flared between federal agents and protesters. On Saturday, authorities reported that a woman rammed a car into border officials. A shooting was also reported in Broadview.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has already slammed Trump's latest move.

“This morning, the Trump administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” Pritzker, a Democrat, said earlier Saturday. “It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.”

What does federalizing the National Guard mean?

Federalizing the National Guard refers to the process by which the US government, under the authority of the president or Congress, activates and places state-controlled National Guard units under federal command, shifting them from state to federal jurisdiction.

This action is governed by Title 10 of the US Code, as opposed to Title 32, which oversees state missions. Previously, it has been invoked during national emergencies, wars, or when state governors cannot manage local crises.

When federalized, Guard members transition from state pay and control—typically under governors—to federal oversight, receiving active-duty benefits and following orders from the Department of Defense.

Illinois Democrats have raised concerns. “Terrorizing families with midnight raids and military troops in our streets is writing a shameful chapter in our nation’s history,” US Senator Dick Durbin said in a statement. “This president is not intent on fighting crime. He is intent on spreading fear.”

(With Bloomberg inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.