National Emergency Authority To Order the Selected Reserve and Certain Members of the Individual Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces to Active Duty

2020-04-01Executive Order 13912
Signed by: Donald Trump
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Headline: Orders Up to One Million Reserve Members to Active Duty

What it does: The order directs Defense and Homeland Security leaders to activate up to 1,000,000 reserve members for up to 24 months.

Real World Impact:
  • Allows recall of up to 1,000,000 reserve members to active duty.
  • Reserve members can be ordered for up to 24 consecutive months.
  • State officials must be consulted before using National Guard reserve units.
Topics: military mobilization, reserve forces, public health emergency, state-federal coordination

Summary

This order allows top defense and homeland security leaders to call up members of the Selected Reserve and certain Individual Ready Reserve to active duty to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency.

It permits up to 1,000,000 reservists on active duty at once, each for up to 24 consecutive months, and requires consultation with state officials before using National Guard reserve units.

The order is intended to provide personnel to support health care systems strained by the coronavirus outbreak.

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