Memorandum on Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of the National Guard To Respond to COVID-19
Issued 2020-03-28 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This is a presidential memorandum issued by President Donald J. Trump on March 27, 2020, titled "Memorandum on Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of the National Guard To Respond to COVID-19." It directs federal agencies to provide support for state governors using their National Guard to respond to COVID-19. Specifically, it orders the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund 100 percent of the emergency assistance activities that National Guard units under state control undertake to prevent, mitigate, and respond to the public health threat posed by the virus. It also directs the Secretary of Defense to request that governors in specific states and territories order their National Guard forces to perform duties for FEMA assignments, with these operations being fully reimbursable by the federal government.
The memorandum specifically
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This presidential memorandum ("Memorandum on Providing Federal Support for Governors' Use of the National Guard To Respond to COVID-19") provides direction to executive branch agencies. The stated purpose: "COVID–19 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Robert T." Presidential memoranda function similarly to executive orders but are typically more narrow in scope, addressing specific agencies or implementation details. The President's authority to direct executive branch operations is grounded in Article II of the Constitution.
Memoranda are a routine administrative tool. They guide agencies on priorities, interpretation of statutes, and implementation procedures. As long as they operate within the bounds of existing law and respect congressional mandates, they are a standard exercise of presidential power that every modern administration has used.
Official Summary
DCPD202000206 * {margin:0; padding:0; text-indent:0; } .s1 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 12pt; } h1 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; font-size: 12pt; } .s2 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 11pt; } .p, p { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 11pt; margin:0pt; } .s3 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 12pt; } .s4 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 9.5pt; } .s5 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 9pt; } li {display: block; } #l1 {padding-left: 0pt;counter-reset: c1 19; } #l1> li>*:first-child:before {counter-increment: c1; content: counter(c1, decimal)". "; color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 11pt; } #l1> li:first-child>*:first-child:before {counter-increment: c1 0; } #l2 {padding-left: 0pt;counter-reset: c2 1; } #l2> li>*:first-child:before {counter-increment: c2; content: "("counter(c2, lower-roman)") "; color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: n