The Defense Department’s newly established “quick reaction force” within the National Guard is being readied for civil unrest missions in U.S. cities.

A three-star general left the Pentagon earlier this month due to “sustained tensions” with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine. Lt. Gen. Joe McGee retired early from his post on the Joint Staff’s Strategy,

The National Guard is building a “quick reaction force” (QRF) of some 23,500 troops trained in crowd control and civil disturbance that can be ready to deploy to U.S. cities by early next year,

A top U.S. military official has ordered the Guards of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories to form “quick reaction forces” trained in “riot control,” including the use of batons, body shields, tasers and pepper spray, according to an internal Pentagon directive reviewed by The Guardian.

The unprecedented directive comes despite existing rules already barring military officials from disclosing national security secrets.

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to help offset the cost of troops’ salaries and benefits during the shutdown. The Defense Department accepted the donation under its “general gift acceptance authority” on Thursday, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The Pentagon ordered managers to fire underperforming civilian workers with "speed and conviction" under new guidelines that eliminate key job protections.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the National Guard to create “quick reaction” forces in every state and territory in the next several months, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.