The Pentagon is drafting contingency plans that could send National Guard troops to Chicago, U.S. officials confirmed, although no formal deployment order has been issued. The move would extend President Donald Trump’s recent use of troops in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles as part of a broader anti-crime initiative. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson rejected the idea as “the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st Century,” adding that “the city of Chicago does not need a military occupation.” Johnson cited Chicago Police Department figures showing murders down 31 percent, shootings down 36 percent and vehicle thefts down 26 percent from a year earlier, arguing the city is addressing public safety without federal troops. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker echoed the mayor, accusing the White House of “attempting to manufacture a crisis” and pledging to explore legal avenues to block any deployment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on CNN that the president has “no authority” to send troops into the state and instead urged support for local law enforcement. Legal scholars say Trump would likely rely on Title 10 Section 12406, which allows a president to federalize state troops under limited circumstances—an authority already facing court challenges over prior deployments. Civil-rights groups and state officials warned they would sue if soldiers are dispatched, setting the stage for another clash over the limits of federal power in U.S. cities.