federalize

American  

[fed-er-uh-lahyz] / ˈfɛd ər əˌlaɪz /

especially British, federalise

verb (used with object)

federalized, federalizing

1. to bring under the control of a federal government.

   to federalize the National Guard.

2. to bring together in a federal union, as different states.

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federalize British  

/ ˈfɛdərəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to unite in a federation or federal union; federate

2. to subject to federal control

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Other Word Forms

• federalization
  noun
• refederalization
  noun
• refederalize
  verb

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Etymology

Origin of federalize

First recorded in 1795–1805; federal + -ize

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

federalize federalized federalizing

Now that might not be an option, after the Supreme Court in December ruled against his effort to federalize the Guard in Illinois.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

“Although we hold that the President likely has authority to federalize the National Guard, nothing in our decision addresses the nature of the activities in which the federalized National Guard may engage,” Bennett wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2025

Instead, he has purported to federalize the National Guard under a lesser-known statute, 10 USC Section 12406.

From Slate ● Jun. 10, 2025

He instead evoked a very rarely used law that was last applied in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson to protect civil rights workers from local police, allowing him to federalize those troops.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2025

To federalize the union was to combine the advantage of common action with liberty to each community to work out its own ideals in education, municipal government and all other matters of local concern.

From George Brown by John Lewis

After the Los Angeles operation, the administration federalized the Washington, D.C., police department and deployed National Guard members there, too, giving DHS agents room to ramp up their enforcement in the nation’s capital.

From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2026

Breyer ordered that command of the remaining federalized troops be returned to Newsom, rejecting the administration’s argument that once federalized, Guard units could remain under presidential control indefinitely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025

“Six months after they first federalized the California National Guard, Defendants still retain control of approximately 300 Guardsmen, despite no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way—let alone significantly,” Breyer wrote.

From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2025

Bennett pressed the point, asking whether under the current law the militia George Washington federalized to put down the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 could “stay called up forever” — a position the government again affirmed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2025

An article in the newspaper announced that hall patrols by federalized National Guardsmen would be eliminated, although they would remain in the building and make periodic checks.

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals

“We’re not talking about federalizing anything … or selling assets to the highest bidder,” he said.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 25, 2018

"When they first brought these cases, the criticism was they were federalizing state law," Lev said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2018

However, Grassley was clear in saying he had no interest in federalizing local law enforcement or in second-guessing the actions of officers or agencies.

From US News ● May 5, 2015

It’s not clear, however, what precise impact federalizing the issue could have.

From Slate ● May 4, 2012

Three days later President Eisenhower trumped the state, federalizing the states guard and sending in US Army troops to escort the nine through the school’s doors.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

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