Election Misinformation
No, the Military Didn’t Just Authorize Lethal Force Against Americans
Department of Defense Directive 5240.01 was recently updated and the far-right is losing its collective mind
Misinformation regarding Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 5240.01, first issued in 2007 under former president George W. Bush and recently updated, has been circulating online creating panic in far-right conservative and libertarian circles. But it’s not just those groups falling for the hype, some so-called leftists and liberals have bought into it too.
The timing of the updated directive is driving much of the hysteria. Coupled with disinformation in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the upcoming election, many believe the DOD update is related to those events. From making false claims about FEMA coming to steal property on behalf of corporations to actions against U.S. citizens after the election, many have keyed in on the term “lethal force” and are associating it with election-related violence.
“Assistance in responding with assets with potential for lethality, or any situation in which it is reasonably foreseeable that providing the requested assistance may involve the use of force that is likely to result…
