National Guard Use in Law Enforcement Activities

National Guard Bureau

This presentation, by National Guard Bureau General Counsel Charles L. Young III, outlines the legal framework governing National Guard involvement in law enforcement. It covers the president’s inherent powers, the Insurrection Act, and the various authorities that authorize or limit the Guard’s role, including federal requests for direct and indirect law enforcement support. It also reviews relevant statutes, duties, and regulations that shape how and when the National Guard can be deployed domestically.