Pentagon preps for possible Trump order to deploy troops on Americans: report

The Pentagon is bracing for "major upheaval" ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second term, according to CNN, with officials already holding informal talks about how the Defense Department will respond if Trump orders it to deploy active-duty military troops on his own citizens and makes good on promises to boot large swaths of workers.

Trump insinuated during his campaign he could use the military as a law enforcement mechanism to carry out his plan for mass deportations, and that he would replace government workers with loyalists.

CNN reported Friday that the Pentagon is preparing for an overhaul and is mapping out scenarios ahead of time.

“We are all preparing and planning for the worst-case scenario, but the reality is that we don’t know how this is going to play out yet,” one defense official told CNN.

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The department is also preparing for Trump and his appointees to issue illegal directives.

“Troops are compelled by law to disobey unlawful orders,” another defense official told CNN. “But the question is what happens then – do we see resignations from senior military leaders? Or would they view that as abandoning their people?”

CNN's Kristen Holmes told anchor Jake Tapper on Friday the top contenders for several Cabinet positions have met with the Trump team's transition leaders. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Haggert (R-TN) are in the running for secretary of state, as well as Ric Grenell.

More names could be unveiled Friday, said Holmes, and Trump has been taking calls at Mar-a-Lago and going over a list of names.

The administration picked Susie Wiles for chief of staff to set a "no-nonsense" tone, Holmes reported.

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