Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee he would carry out a lawful order to attack “designated terrorist organizations” in the U.S. if he had no legal concerns.

His statement is controversial because the Trump administration has labeled some groups, including certain drug cartels and reportedly Antifa, as terrorist organizations, a designation some experts say lacks a clear legal basis.

This comes after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, which critics have called extrajudicial killings.

Concerns have arisen that this framework could be used against domestic political opponents under the guise of counterterrorism, The Intercept has reported.

While the Posse Comitatus Act limits military action on U.S. soil, exceptions exist, and administration officials argue such strikes are lawful and necessary for national security.