Insurrection Act of 2025

This bill sets strict rules for when the President can use the U.S. military inside the country. It says this should be a last resort—used only when state and local authorities, and federal civilian law enforcement, can’t handle serious unrest or blocked laws. The President can act only in specific situations, such as a large insurrection or rebellion that overwhelms local authorities; severe, widespread violence when the governor or a supermajority of the state legislature asks for help; or when people’s rights—including voting rights—are being denied because laws are being blocked and police can’t fix it. It also covers dangerous obstruction of federal law by private groups or by a state itself when civilian enforcement isn’t enough .

If action is taken, the military must follow standard rules for when force can be used, stay in the normal chain of command, and cannot suspend habeas corpus or break federal or state law. Before acting, the President must consult Congress, issue a public proclamation telling people to disperse, and send Congress a report explaining why troops are needed, why other options won’t work, and what the mission will be. The authority ends after 7 days unless Congress approves; each approval allows up to 14 more days, with renewals possible, and courts can stop the action at any time. If Congress can’t meet because of the emergency, the 7‑day clock starts once it reconvenes . People, states, or cities who are harmed—or reasonably fear harm—can sue in federal court, with fast‑tracked review and a direct path to the Supreme Court. The bill also counts Puerto Rico, D.C., Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as “States” for these rules, and it bars using National Guard members on training duty for these purposes.

• Who is affected: Communities facing insurrection, severe unrest, or blocked rights; state and local governments; and U.S. territories and D.C.
• What changes:
  • President must consult Congress, issue a disperse order, and file a detailed report before using troops
  • Troops must follow standard use‑of‑force rules; no suspension of habeas corpus; obey federal and state law
  • Time limits: 7 days without approval; 14‑day extensions with approval; courts can halt it; timing adjusts if Congress can’t meet
  • People and governments can quickly challenge deployments in court, with rapid appeals to the Supreme Court
  • National Guard on training duty cannot be used for these actions