The Legal Defense Fund supports the protection, preservation, and long-term viability of State Defense Forces and other organized state military forces through investigation, legislative advocacy, legal analysis, and, where appropriate, litigation.
The Fund helps finance investigations into policies, directives, organizational changes, and administrative actions that may weaken State Defense Forces, reduce their operational capabilities, impair recruiting and retention, undermine their military status, conflict with applicable state law or legislative intent, or may endanger the lives of service members. This work may include obtaining public records, reviewing official orders and correspondence, analyzing statutes and regulations, documenting manpower and readiness trends, and consulting with attorneys, military professionals, academics, and other subject-matter experts.

When potentially harmful policies are identified, the program works with Governors' offices, state legislators, legislative committees, military departments, and other appropriate officials to seek administrative or legislative solutions. This may include opposing or seeking the repeal of policies that adversely affect State Defense Forces, proposing corrective legislation, strengthening statutory protections, improving legislative oversight, and ensuring that major decisions affecting a state's military forces remain consistent with the intent of the legislature and the interests of the state.

Where an actual justiciable controversy exists, and qualified legal counsel determines that there is a sufficient factual and legal basis to proceed, Legal Defense Fund resources may also support appropriate legal action. Litigation is considered a measure of last resort and may include seeking declaratory, injunctive, or other lawful relief through the courts while corrective legislation is pursued when appropriate.

The purpose of the Legal Defense Fund is not to target individual officials or institutions. Its purpose is to ensure accountability, preserve lawful state military capabilities, protect the interest of State Defense Force personnel, and provide policymakers with documented facts when the future of a State Defense Force is at risk.

Contributions to the Legal Defense Fund support public-records requests, legal research, professional consultation, legislative advocacy, policy development, educational materials, and qualified legal expenses associated with approved cases.

When a State Defense Force is threatened, weakened, or its members placed at risk by questionable policy, the Legal Defense Fund works to ensure that the facts are documented, the law is examined, legislators are informed, corrective action is pursued, and lawful remedies remain available.