President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday tasking his secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, with establishing “specialized units” in the National Guard that will be “specifically trained and equipped to deal with public order issues” — the clearest sign yet he intends to expand the US military’s role in domestic law enforcement activities across the country.

President Donald Trump said he is still prepared to order National Guard troops to other American cities but that he wanted local officials to request his help.

If Trump sends the National Guard into cities without the consent of governors, state leaders would be able to file court challenges, as California Governor Gavin Newsom did to block Trump from federalizing the National Guard to quell protests and riots over his immigration policy in Los Angeles earlier this summer, Banks said.