Washington D.C. – An internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo, obtained and reported by Greg Sargent of The New Republic, indicates that the Trump administration is planning to significantly escalate the military's involvement in domestic law enforcement. The document details high-level discussions between the Department of Defense (DoD) and DHS, outlining future coordination efforts. Experts have expressed alarm over the implications of such expanded military roles within the United States.
The memo outlines the agenda for a July 21 meeting between senior officials from both departments, focusing on enhanced coordination for "defense of the homeland." It specifies goals that Philip Hegseth, the memo's author, intended to achieve during the meeting, including points DHS officials were to emphasize to Pentagon attendees. Participants included top brass such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs chairman Dan Caine, and NORTHCOM Commander Gregory Guillot.
Philip Hegseth, who authored the memo, serves as a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acts as a liaison officer to the Department of Defense. His role has drawn scrutiny due to his familial connection to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, his older brother. This appointment has raised questions regarding potential nepotism and the blurring lines between personal and professional relationships within the administration.
Joseph Nunn, counsel for the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, voiced strong concerns regarding the memo's contents. Nunn stated that such actions "could create a kind of domestic ‘Forever War,’ but one that is uniquely dangerous." He added that "a military that is turned inward is a threat to both democracy and individual liberty," emphasizing that military involvement in domestic law enforcement "absolutely undermines the rule of law."
The Trump administration has previously utilized the military in domestic operations, particularly concerning immigration enforcement. Past deployments include calling 2,000 members of the California National Guard into service to protect federal personnel and property during protests against ICE raids. Additionally, the administration has used military planes for deportations and discussed using Guard troops for "night operations and rural interdiction," as well as "guard duty and riot control" within detention facilities, with a focus on "sanctuary cities."
The newly revealed memo suggests a further institutionalization and expansion of these practices, pushing for deeper military engagement in civilian law enforcement matters. This proposed escalation of military support for domestic operations, particularly immigration enforcement, continues to raise significant legal and ethical questions about the appropriate role of the armed forces within the nation's borders.