Petition to Gov. Healey To Secure Control of the MA National Guard
Governor Maura Healey
In his September speech to military leaders, Trump outlined an authoritarian playbook for the armed occupations of major American cities. He described a “war from within” and told the country’s top commanders they “should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.”
The Trump administration is now deploying National Guard units into states that never requested them and don’t want them. Governors hold power and must resist.
The law requires a state’s National Guard to remain under state control with very few exceptions. That means governors can refuse to cooperate, sue to block illegal deployments, and defend their citizens from Trump’s escalating attempts to use state forces as instruments of fear and control.
Every governor in America now faces the same choice: Stand against Trump’s military deployments, or allow the administration to turn American cities into a police state.
Sign our petition now to urge Governor Maura Healey to stand firm against Federal overreach and take formal steps to maintain the Governor's sole constitutional authority over the Massachusetts National Guard.
Sponsored by
To:
Governor Maura Healey
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Governor Healey,
Enclosed please find a petition signed by citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts urging you to take formal steps to maintain the Governor’s sole constitutional authority over the Massachusetts National Guard.
The petition reflects the deep concern of Massachusetts residents that recent federal actions and statements threaten to override state control of the Guard. We believe such actions violate both the spirit and the letter of federal and state (Part II, Chapter II, Section I, Article VII) constitutional principles reserving to each Governor command of their respective National Guards except when lawfully federalized during genuine national emergencies.
We, the undersigned, respectfully request that you publicly affirm and, if necessary, order that the Massachusetts National Guard respond only to lawful orders issued by the Governor of Massachusetts, except in cases of legitimate federal activation for natural disasters, invasions or rebellions. We will support you in resisting illegitimate federal activation attempts.
We know you and the attorney general are working to protect our civil rights. Thank you also for protecting the sovereignty of the Commonwealth. We trust you will take this matter under serious consideration and respond in defense of Massachusetts’ constitutional prerogatives.
PETITION TO SECURE MASSACHUSETTS' CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OVER ITS NATIONAL GUARD
Whereas: The National Guard is controlled by state governors to handle civil unrest or natural disasters. However, the President can federalize them under the Insurrection Act for national needs. And
Whereas: There is no insurgency inside or outside the United States threatening our domestic tranquility. And
Whereas: Trump will not stop in his efforts to take full control of the National Guards. “In recent interviews about his National Guard deployments, Trump has floated the idea of using the Insurrection Act if his efforts to use other statutes fail. ‘I’m allowed, as, you know, as president. Like 50% of the presidents have used the Insurrection Act, they can use that, and everybody agrees you’re allowed to use that,’ he said on Oct. 19 when speaking with reporters about the possibility of deploying troops to San Francisco. ‘We’re trying to do it in a nicer manner. But we can always use the Insurrection Act if we want.’” NBC News, October 23, 2025. And
Whereas: Trump has sent orders to begin assuming control of the state National Guards, including Massachusetts. “A top US military official has ordered the national guards of all 50 US states, the District of Columbia and US territories to form ‘quick reaction forces’ trained in ‘riot control’, including use of batons, body shields, Tasers and pepper spray, according to an internal Pentagon directive reviewed by the Guardian.” The Guardian, October 29, 2025. And
Whereas: On October 30, Trump told U.S. military personnel that he is federalizing National Guard troops and sending them into Democratic-led cities ‘because we’re going to have safe cities.’ And
Whereas: Trump’s words and actions have demeaned and irritated the military. Each soldier has sworn an oath to defend the Constitution. Although they are required to follow the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, they are also instructed not to follow an illegal order. National Guard troops are being put in an impossible situation. And
Whereas: the Massachusetts National Guard is our last hope of preserving our political sovereignty and our civil rights in the face of ICE’s illegal trampling of the civil rights of citizens and immigrants in Massachusetts. And
We, the citizens of Massachusetts signed below, therefore request that Governor Maura Healey order the Massachusetts National Guard to henceforth disregard any requests, orders or demands from the Federal Government, except for cooperation during a natural disaster, and further that the Massachusetts National Guard respond only to orders issued by the Governor of Massachusetts.