President Trump appears to have used federal law to order the national guard to go to Los Angeles, rather than the 18th century Insurrection Act.

The national guard is a hybrid entity that serves both state and federal interests. Often, it operates under state command and control, using state funding. Sometimes national guard troops will be assigned by their state to serve federal missions, remaining under state command but using federal funding.

The law cited by Trump’s proclamation places national guard troops under federal command.

The law says this can be done under three circumstances:

• when the US is invaded or in danger of invasion;
• when there is a rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the US government;
• or when the president is unable to “execute the laws of the United States”, with regular forces.

But the law also says that orders for those purposes “shall be issued through the governors of the States”. It’s not immediately clear whether the president can activate national guard troops without the order of that state’s governor – especially pertinent given the order has been made despite the objections of California governor Gavin Newsom.

We have a broader explainer available here:

Source: The Guardian.