4 out of 5 US troops surveyed understand the duty to disobey illegal orders

'Duty to disobey': A stunning number of US troops know they can defy Trump's orders

With his Aug. 11, 2025, announcement that he was sending the National Guard – along with federal law enforcement – into Washington, D.C. to fight crime, President Donald Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines.Indeed, since Trump returned to office, many of his actions have alarmed international human rights observers. His administration has deported immigrants without…

4 Out of 5 US Troops Surveyed Understand the Duty to Disobey Illegal Orders

With his Aug. 11, 2025, announcement that he was sending the National Guard – along with federal law enforcement – into Washington, D.C. to fight crime, President Donald Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines.

4 out of 5 US troops surveyed understand the duty to disobey illegal orders

National Guard members arrive at the Guard’s headquarters at D.C. Armory on Aug. 12, 2025 in Washington. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesWith his Aug. 11, 2025, announcement that he was sending the National Guard – along with federal law enforcement – into Washington, D.C. to fight crime, President Donald Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines. Indeed, since Trump returne…

New study: A majority of US troops understand their duty to disobey illegal orders

Scholars of international relations and international law found that many service members do understand the distinction between legal and illegal orders — and when to disobey them.