10 U.S.C. § 253

Interference with State and Federal law

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The President, by using the militia or the armed forces, or both, or by any other means, shall take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy, if it—(1) so hinders the execution of the laws of that State, and of the United States within the State, that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection; or(2) opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.In any situation covered by clause (1), the State shall be considered to have denied the equal protection of the laws secured by the Constitution.(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 15, § 333; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1076(a)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2404; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1068(a)(1), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 325; renumbered § 253, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2497.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
333	50:203.	R.S. 5299.

The words “armed forces” are substituted for the words “land or naval forces of the United States”. The word “shall” is substituted for the words “it shall be lawful for * * * and it shall be his duty”.

Derivation

Act Apr. 20, 1871, ch. 22, § 3, 17 Stat. 14.

Editorial NotesCodification

Another section 253 was renumbered section 240c of this title.

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 333 of this title as this section.

2008—Pub. L. 110–181 amended section generally, substituting provisions directing the President to suppress certain insurrections and domestic violence in a State for provisions authorizing the President to employ the armed forces during a natural disaster or terrorist attack or to suppress an insurrection in a State and requiring notice to Congress during the exercise of such authority.

2006—Pub. L. 109–364 amended section catchline and text generally, substituting provisions authorizing the President to employ the armed forces during a natural disaster or terrorist attack or to suppress an insurrection in a State and requiring notice to Congress during the exercise of such authority for provisions directing the President to suppress certain insurrections and domestic violence in a State.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1068(d), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 326, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 334 and 12304 of this title and repealing section 2567 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008].”

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2020–2025 · leading case: Class v. United States (Fed. Cl. 2020).

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Class v. United States (Fed. Cl. 2020). · cites it 2× “He clarifies this claim by citing directly to 10 U.S.C. § 253 which in relevant part requires the President of the United States to use the military or any other means to “suppress .”

State of Oregon v. Trump (9th Cir. 2025). “See Bybee, Insuring Domestic Tranquility, 66 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. at 67–71.”

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