Trump’s Military Occupations Cost $473 Million and Rising
- Here's a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on inaccuracies adn context surrounding the Insurrection Act and federal troop deployments:
- * Invocation Count: Trump claimed the act had been invoked "six times," but research from the Brennan Center for Justice shows it (and similar prior laws) have been...
- Deployment of troops requires meeting specific criteria.
Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on inaccuracies adn context surrounding the Insurrection Act and federal troop deployments:
1. Trump’s Misstatements about the Insurrection Act:
* Invocation Count: Trump claimed the act had been invoked “six times,” but research from the Brennan Center for Justice shows it (and similar prior laws) have been invoked 30 times in U.S.history.
* Presidential Use: Trump stated ”50 percent of the presidents” have invoked the act. The Brennan center’s research indicates only 17 out of 45 presidents (less than 38%) have done so.
2. The Insurrection Act’s Limitations:
* The act is powerful, but not unlimited. Deployment of troops requires meeting specific criteria.
* The Department of Justice historically interprets these criteria as being limited by the Constitution and tradition.
* According to Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan center, the act should only be used in “extreme circumstances” not currently present in cities like Los Angeles, Portland, or Chicago.
3. Misinformation from U.S. Northern Command:
* A document linked on the U.S. Northern Command website claims that in all instances of federal troop deployment without a governor’s consent, the governor requested federal assistance.
* This claim is false. The Brennan Center’s Goitein specifically cites the 1957 Little Rock, Arkansas situation as a clear counterexample. Governor Orval Faubus actively opposed federal intervention to enforce school desegregation and even called his own National Guard “occupation troops” after they were federalized.
4. Key Quote:
* The text ends with the statement: “Protest plays an essential role in our democracy.” (This appears to be an incomplete sentence, but highlights the context of discussions around federal intervention in protests).
In essence, the article highlights a pattern of misinformation – from both a former president and official sources – regarding the Insurrection Act and the use of federal troops for domestic law enforcement. It emphasizes the importance of accurate information and the limitations placed on the use of such powers.