National Security Leaders for America Calls on State Attorneys General to Prepare to Block Armed Federal Interference in the 2026 Elections

States should be prepared to seek emergency injunctive relief before military forces or massed federal law enforcement deployments can intimidate voters or interfere with state-run elections.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC, September 14, 2026 National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) calls on state attorneys general to prepare now to seek emergency injunctive relief if the federal government takes identifiable steps toward deploying uniformed military forces or massed armed federal law enforcement personnel into major American cities in connection with the November elections.

States should not wait until troops and federal agents are moving down their streets before asking the courts to protect their citizens’ constitutional right to be free from unlawful military interference in the administration of elections.

Federal law already provides important safeguards against military or coercive interference in domestic elections:

• 18 U.S.C. § 592 — “Troops at polls” restricts the presence of troops or armed personnel where elections are being held.

• 18 U.S.C. § 593 — “Interference by armed forces” prohibits military interference with voters, election officials, or election administration.

• 18 U.S.C. § 594 — “Intimidation of voters” criminalizes voter intimidation, threats, and coercion.

• 18 U.S.C. § 1385 — the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits using the Armed Forces to execute civilian law unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress.

On July 28, Senator Edward Markey, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and ten other senators wrote to the leaders of the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense demanding answers about whether the Administration intends to deploy troops or armed federal law enforcement personnel to polling places or other election sites. Their concerns were predicated upon repeated statements by senior Administration officials declining or otherwise evading a categorical rejection of such deployments, as well as the discovery of thousands of pages of federal records potentially related to the issue.

While we acknowledge General Dan Caine’s August 31 assurance that the military has no plans to deploy forces to polling places or interfere with election materials, his answer was limited to the military’s current plans. It does not rule out preparations for other domestic deployments if the President orders them, nor does it address possible actions by the Departments of Homeland Security or Justice. States should take that assurance seriously, yet they should not treat it as a guarantee when their responsibility to administer elections and protect the right to vote is at stake.

State attorneys general cannot act on speculation alone, but informed anticipation is not speculation, and states cannot afford to wait until a deployment is already underway. NSL4A is not urging attorneys general to file unsubstantiated lawsuits; we are urging them to prepare now and be ready to act the moment concrete evidence—such as deployment orders, personnel notifications, staging, transportation, or facility reservations—shows that a federal deployment is imminent.

Immediately at that point in time, state attorneys general should seek narrowly tailored injunctive relief to prevent military or massed federal law enforcement forces from intimidating voters, interfering with election officials, or disrupting state election administration.

This is not about obstructing legitimate law enforcement or emergency assistance. It is about enforcing the Constitution’s prescribed structure for conducting elections and preventing the coercive power of the federal government’s executive branch from being brought to bear on an American election.

The danger of waiting is clear. State officials must prepare now to seek immediate relief from the courts when the threat becomes imminent—not after the trucks have rolled, armed federal personnel are in the streets, and voters are already questioning whether it is safe to cast their ballots.

The courts exist in part to prevent unlawful government action before irreparable damage is done. State attorneys general should be prepared to use them.

Members of National Security Leaders for America are available for interviews on this issue. Click the button below to arrange an interview.

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About National Security Leaders for America

National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) is a nonpartisan network of over 1,500 senior national security professionals—retired admirals, generals, senior enlisted leaders, intelligence officers, diplomats, and civilian service officials—from across the political spectrum who are united in defense of American democracy. Founded in 2021, NSL4A is a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for democratic values, institutions, and leaders who uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Our members offer expert, real-world insights on the national security implications of election integrity, civil-military relations, and democratic resilience.

Media Contact: CommDirector@nsl4a.org