U.S. Military Now Authorized to Kill Americans on U.S. Soil? New DoD Directive Drops

Contact Your Elected Officials

Just ahead, intriguingly, of the November elections, the U.S. military has granted itself permission to unleash “lethal force” on the civilian population in cases of “national security” emergency.

Related: TSA Rolls Out ‘Voluntary’ Face Scans at Over a Dozen American Airports

Via GreenMedInfo (emphasis added):

“As the U.S. prepares for one of the most controversial and closely watched elections in its history, a concerning update to DoD Directive 5240.01 has quietly been put into effect. Reissued on September 27, 2024, this directive governs the Department of Defense’s (DoD) intelligence activities and now includes provisions authorizing lethal force in certain circumstances when assisting civilian law enforcementWhile the directive forbids assassination, it opens the door to lethal interventions under “national security” conditions….

The reissuance of DoD Directive 5240.01 repealed previous versions, including the 1982 DoD 5240.1-R. While the update might seem routine, the changes regarding the use of lethal force in domestic operations are significant.

In the 2016 version, the directive primarily focused on intelligence collection and ensuring civil liberties protections for U.S. persons. It emphasized strict oversight and the need for authorization before collecting U.S. person information.

However, the 2024 version expands the military’s role, particularly in assisting civil law enforcement, and authorizes lethal force under specific conditions, raising questions about its use during potential civil unrest surrounding the election.”

The relevant provisions from the updated directed are below, via updated DoD Directive 5240.01, Section 3.3.a.(2)(c) (emphasis added):

“Subject to Paragraph 3.1., Defense Intelligence Components may provide personnel to assist a Federal department or agency, including a Federal law enforcement agency, or a State or local law enforcement agency when lives are in danger, in response to a request for such assistance, in accordance with the following approval authorities:

a.  Secretary of Defense Approval.

(1)  The Secretary of Defense may approve any type of requested permissible assistance described in Paragraph 3.2.

(2)  The decision to approve requests for these types of permissible assistance described in Paragraph 3.2. to law enforcement agencies and other civil authorities are reserved to the Secretary of Defense:

(a)  Provision of personnel to support response efforts for civil disturbances, which may also require Presidential authorization.

(b)  DoD response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive incidents.

(c)  Assistance in responding with assets with potential for lethality, or any situation in which it is reasonably foreseeable that providing the requested assistance may involve the use of force that is likely to result in lethal force, including death or serious bodily injury.  It also includes all support to civilian law enforcement officials in situations where a confrontation between civilian law enforcement and civilian individuals or groups is reasonably anticipated.”

Related: TSA May Soon Collect Biometric Data at Airports From All Travelers, No Exemptions

The U.S. military, for the record, is expressly prohibited from engaging domestically with the citizenry with very specific, narrow exceptions, per the Posse Comitatus Act, 18 U.S. Code § 1385, via Legal Information Institute:

“Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, or the Space Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”

DoD Intelligence and Intelligence-related Activities and Defense Intelligence Component Assistance to Law Enforcement Agencies and Other Civil Authorities PDF

524001p

Download PDF

Ben Bartee is an independent Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs.

Follow his stuff via Substack. Also, keep tabs via Twitter.

Support always welcome via the digital tip jar.

Bitcoin public address: bc1qvq4hgnx3eu09e0m2kk5uanxnm8ljfmpefwhaw

Ben Bartee
Ben Barteehttps://armageddonprose.substack.com/
BEWARE!!! Ben Bartee never minces words, so read at your own risk. Ben is a Bangkok-based American journalist, grant writer, political essayist, researcher, travel blogger, and amateur philosopher -- with opposable thumbs. He is the author of Broken English Teacher: Notes From Exile.

This Is America: Target™ Reparations

“This Is America” explores the cultural undercurrents pulling Western...

Blind Man’s Shutdown

Congress is playing the equivalent of Bind Man's Bluff. With the shout “tag your it” they seek to blame the other party for the government shutdown.

A Reluctant Acknowledgment: What Conservatives Can Admire in Everyday Progressives

Admirable ideological qualities seen in liberals and left-wing individuals are those of the everyday believer not their political leadership.

Ensuring Domestic Tranquility

The Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution establishes it as the highest law of the land, taking precedence over conflicting state laws.

Is There a 9/11 WTC and 9/10 Charlie Kirk Connection?

Strange parallels in online stories raise questions about whether Israelis and Mossad intelligence are our allies or adversaries.

Trump Coal Boost Gains Momentum as Bids, Land Opened Up

Trump administration accelerates coal expansion with new leases, mine permits, and 13.1 million acres of federal land opened for coal mining.

Goaded by Tariffs, European Pharmaceutical Industry Pivots to the US

U.S. tariffs and a lucrative drug market are driving European pharma firms to boost investment through new plants, stock listings, and pricing deals.

Trump to Deploy 300 National Guard Members in Illinois, Pritzker Says

President Trump to deploy 300 National Guard members in Illinois after DHS said federal officers were rammed and fired upon near Chicago,

A Shooting Near Houston Suburb Leaves Two Children Dead and Two Others in Critical Condition

Two children were killed and two more were critically injured in a shooting early Saturday near the Houston suburb of Angleton, Texas, authorities said.

Department of Energy Cancels $7.5 Billion in Project Funding

The Dept of Energy (DOE) said on Oct. 2 that it had terminated 321 federal grants funding 223 projects, amounting to about $7.56 billion in cuts.

White House Withdraws EJ Antoni’s Nomination to Lead Bureau of Labor Statistics

The White House has withdrawn economist EJ Antoni’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the White House confirmed on Sept. 30.

US to Impose 100 Percent Tariffs on Foreign-Made Movies, Trump Says

President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 29 that he will impose a 100 percent tariff on all movies produced outside the United States.

Trump to Host Netanyahu at White House to Discuss Gaza Peace Plan

President Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House on Sept. 29 to discuss a ceasefire and broader peace plan for Gaza.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central