Pentagon Officials Discuss How to Respond if Trump Issues Controversial Orders
Pentagon Prepares for Potential Crisis if Trump Issues Controversial Orders
Senior Pentagon officials are quietly discussing how the Department of Defense would respond if former President Donald Trump were to issue orders to deploy active-duty troops domestically or fire large numbers of nonpartisan federal employees, multiple defense officials told SERP.
Trump has expressed openness to using active-duty military forces for domestic law enforcement, mass deportations, and reshaping the federal bureaucracy with loyalists, including purging individuals he deems as "corrupt" in the national security establishment. These remarks have raised alarms within the Pentagon, with officials contemplating how to navigate a potential return to power for Trump and what it could mean for military engagement in domestic affairs.
During his first term, Trump’s relationship with senior military leaders was often strained, particularly with Gen. Mark Milley, who took steps to limit Trump’s ability to use nuclear weapons as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump has also publicly derided U.S. military generals as “woke,” “weak,” and “ineffective leaders,” further intensifying concerns among Pentagon officials about the future trajectory of civilian-military relations.
As Trump’s political future becomes more certain, Pentagon officials are preparing for a potential overhaul of the defense establishment and exploring worst-case scenarios. "We are all preparing and planning for the worst-case scenario, but the reality is that we don’t know how this is going to play out yet," one senior defense official said.
Unlawful Orders and Military Response
One of the most pressing questions on Pentagon officials' minds is what would happen if Trump issued an unlawful order, especially if political appointees inside the Department of Defense fail to push back. Under U.S. law, military personnel are required to disobey unlawful orders, but defense officials are concerned about the potential fallout—whether senior military leaders might resign, or whether they might view such a decision as abandoning their troops.
"You can’t just ignore unlawful orders, but the reality is, if it happens, there could be a significant crisis within the military," said another official. "Do we see resignations from senior leaders, or do they risk the consequences of disobeying a direct order?"
As of now, it’s unclear who Trump would choose to lead the Pentagon in a second administration. However, officials believe that Trump’s team will try to avoid the kind of fraught, “hostile” relationship he had with the military during his first term. A former Pentagon official remarked, "The relationship between the White House and the DoD was really, really bad, so they’re thinking carefully about how to avoid that dynamic this time around."
Reinstating Schedule F and Civilian Workforce Concerns
Another significant issue facing the Pentagon is Trump’s potential reinstatement of *Schedule F*, an executive order he issued in 2020 that aimed to reclassify large numbers of career federal employees, making it easier to fire them for political reasons. This order, which was largely reversed under President Biden, would target career civilians in national security agencies, including the Pentagon.
Defense officials have already begun making lists of employees who could be affected if Trump reintroduces Schedule F. "My email has been inundated on this topic," said one Pentagon official. "Definitely going to be a busy couple of months." During Trump’s last term, the Pentagon tried to limit the impact of Schedule F by keeping the number of reclassified employees as low as possible, but a similar effort is underway again.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been vocal about the dangers of politicizing the military. In a recent statement, Austin said, "I totally believe that our leaders will continue to do the right thing no matter what," adding that Congress would also play a key role in ensuring the military remains apolitical and independent.
Domestic Deployment of Military Forces
Trump has also sparked concern with his rhetoric about deploying military forces domestically. Last month, he suggested that the military should be used to handle what he called “the enemy from within,” referring to left-wing groups and political opponents. In his remarks, Trump suggested that protests following the 2024 election could be quelled by National Guard troops or, if necessary, the military.
"I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, the National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military," he said. This idea has raised alarms, particularly since there are legal restrictions, such as the *Posse Comitatus Act*, which prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement—though the law includes exceptions for cases of rebellion or terrorism.
In addition, Trump reportedly considered invoking the *Insurrection Act* in 2020 to send active-duty troops to quell protests in the wake of George Floyd's death. While no such invocation occurred, the possibility of using the military for domestic purposes remains a real concern for Pentagon leaders.
A former senior defense official told SERP it was likely Trump would deploy additional troops to assist with border security, especially if he pursues plans for mass deportations. The Pentagon already has a substantial military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border, including both active-duty and National Guard units. However, the former official warned that any decision to send troops into American cities for law enforcement purposes would need to be approached with extreme caution. “It’s a big deal,” he said. “But it’s the only way to address issues at scale.”
Protecting Civilian Employees
Civilian employees at the Pentagon and other federal agencies are also at risk if Trump reinstates Schedule F. Under this order, large numbers of nonpartisan career officials could be fired or reassigned for political reasons. Despite efforts to protect these workers through legal safeguards, Pentagon officials are concerned that a new administration could find ways to bypass these protections, potentially leading to significant turnover in the defense workforce.
Secretary Austin has consistently stressed the importance of protecting the integrity and political neutrality of the civilian workforce. In July, he issued a memo warning about the dangers of political interference within the Department of Defense, urging that career officials be shielded from unlawful political encroachments.
“The U.S. military will obey only lawful orders,” Austin wrote in a recent message to the force. “You are the United States military—the finest fighting force on Earth—and you will continue to defend our country, our Constitution, and the rights of all of our citizens.”
Concerns About Military Readiness
Pentagon officials are also concerned about how such domestic deployments could affect the military’s ability to respond to foreign threats. One Army official said that additional troops tasked with border security could undermine the military’s readiness to address more urgent national security challenges abroad.
Ultimately, as discussions continue, the Pentagon remains focused on navigating the potential challenges posed by a second Trump presidency, preparing for a range of possibilities while seeking to maintain the integrity, readiness, and neutrality of the U.S. military.
0 Comments