WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday he opposes use of Insurrection Act, which would allow President Donald Trump to use active-duty forces for law enforcement duties.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Esper said active-duty troops in a law enforcement role should be used in the United States “only in the most urgent and dire of situations,” adding, “We are not in one of those situations now.”

Use of the Insurrection Act has been discussed as Trump has talked about using the military to quell violent protests in U.S. cities.

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