Will Maryland National Guard riot control force stifle protests, elections?

Maryland National Guard's New Riot Control Force Sparks Concerns

A National Guard spokesman stated, “These on-call elements have existed for approximately 20 years in every state and territory as a response force available to governors.”

Following a directive from a senior military official before the midterm elections, all states and territories were instructed to establish a reaction force capable of crowd and riot control. In Maryland, the National Guard emphasized this as a top priority, requiring hundreds of soldiers to be ready to deploy by April.

Concerns Over Impact on Protests and Elections

Former military personnel and lawmakers express fears that this new reaction force might be employed to suppress peaceful demonstrations or intimidate voters during upcoming elections. A public safety analyst shared with The Baltimore Sun that deploying the National Guard in crime control is unprecedented, costly, and carries significant risks.

Context of National Protests Since President Trump’s Inauguration

Since President Donald Trump assumed office, the United States has witnessed “No Kings” protests across many major cities, including Baltimore. These demonstrations highlight issues such as rising health care costs tied to Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed earlier this year and the ongoing, and longest in history, federal government shutdown.

“These on-call elements have existed for approximately 20 years in every state and territory as a response force available to governors.”
“The use of the National Guard to address crime is unprecedented, costly and unwise.”

Additionally, President Trump has at times sought to deploy the National Guard to suppress protests, notably attempting to do so in Portland during ongoing daily demonstrations outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that became increasingly tense.

Author’s Summary

The new Maryland National Guard reaction force for crowd control raises alarm about its potential misuse against peaceful protests and voters, reflecting broader national tensions since President Trump’s tenure began.

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The Baltimore Sun The Baltimore Sun — 2025-11-09

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