Insiders say that the Trump administration has kicked off key drafts to prepare for invoking the Insurrection Act.
In an NBC News report on Wednesday, five people — including a senior administration official, two people close to the White House and two others aware of the conversations — the administration is apparently beginning to consider the next moves and "whether it makes sense to invoke the act."
"Administration officials have drafted legal defenses and various options for invoking the act," two of the people told the outlet.
"But the current, broad consensus among the president’s aides has been to exhaust all other options before taking that step, the senior administration official and one of the people close to the White House said."
Debate among the administration has shifted — as the president has hit recent legal hurdles after ordering the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, and facing pushback from leaders in Chicago and Los Angeles amid his campaign to deploy active duty military in cities he claims are crime-ridden.
“If people were being killed, and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I’d do that,” Trump said.
He added that it hasn't been needed yet.
The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the president to send the U.S. military or federalize National Guard units to suppress insurrection, rebellion, or obstruction of federal law enforcement if local authorities can't or won't maintain order.
"The person close to the White House described the process as working its way up 'an escalatory ladder,'" according to NBC News.
Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, released the following statement:
“The Trump administration is committed to restoring law and order in American cities that are plagued by violence due to Democrat mismanagement. And President Trump will not stand by while violent rioters attack federal law enforcement officers. The administration will work to protect federal assets and officers while making American cities safe again.”