In a move that is being called an “existential threat” to the nation’s Air National Guard, the Biden administration has put forth a proposal that would reassign the part-time force to another branch of the U.S. military.
Traditionally, the Department of Defense (DOD) must first receive approval from the governors before transferring Guard members to another military branch. Legislative Proposal 480, submitted by the DOD to the Senate Armed Services Committee, would do away with that precedent, according to critics.
In an effort to boost the youngest branch of the U.S. military, the proposal would reassign the Air National Guard to Space Force, created during the Trump administration.
Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, president of the National Guard Association, blasted the proposal.
“This is really a wholesale harvesting of the units, the people, the structure, the equipment and the facilities in transferring them out of the National Guard from the governors and just placing them in the active component Space Force,” McGinn told Fox News Digital.
“The National Guard and Air National Guard are the primary combat reserve components for the active-duty Army and Air Force,” Fox News Digital reports. “They are called upon to perform a variety of missions when they respond to requests from civilian authorities during emergencies, including disaster relief and security.”
Until they are federalized — say, for example, when they are deployed to a war zone — the National Guard “falls under the authority of the respective governors of the 55 states and territories of the United States,” the outlet explained.
LP480 would change that. Without the approval of the governor of the state where the unit is based, Air National Guard troops with experience in space missions could be transferred to the Space Force and designated as part-timers.
The “deeply flawed” proposal would essentially gut the National Guard of its original intent, according to a bipartisan letter from more than 80 congressional lawmakers to the Senate and House Armed Service committees.
“We write regarding a deeply flawed legislative proposal put forward by the U.S. Air Force that would undermine our National Guard system,” the Tuesday letter began.
“The original intent of the National Guard was to have a force ready to respond to the needs of their state and country,” the lawmakers stated. “Because of this, authority was placed in the hands of each state’s individual governor. This is more than a matter of governance; governors bear the responsibility to protect the safety of their citizens by maintaining the readiness and deployability of their National Guard units.”
In an astounding show of unity, all 55 U.S. governors also blasted the plan, arguing their authority would be usurped.
“Several of them have spoken with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III to express their opposition to the measure,” Fox News Digital reported.
On Thursday, the National Governors Association (NGA) chair, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, and the vice chair, Democrat Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement stressing the “unanimous opposition” to the legislative proposal.
“Federal law requires consultation and approval from Governors on any decisions to move National Guard units, plain and simple,” it reads. “Until Air Force leaders withdraw LP 480, they are in violation of federal law. We cannot have productive conversations on this matter until LP 480 is set aside. Governors are united on this point.”
NGA Chair Utah @GovCox and Vice Chair @GovofCo Polis issued the below statement reiterating Governors’ unanimous opposition to Legislative Proposal 480 following a Governor-level briefing with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. https://t.co/8E0p5Mt41n pic.twitter.com/TwrABosSLB
— NGA (@NatlGovsAssoc) May 9, 2024
Governor Greg Abbott has mobilized the Lone Star State’s National Guard to assist local authorities with the invasion of illegal migrants at the border.
In a letter written last week to President Biden, he called the proposal a “power grab.”
“I sent a letter to Pres. Biden urging him to retract the U.S. Dept. of the Air Force’s Legislative Proposal 480,” Abbott wrote on X. “This proposal poses a threat to the Texas National Guard and would sideline Governors as the commander-in-chief of our National Guards.”
I sent a letter to Pres. Biden urging him to retract the U.S. Dept. of the Air Force’s Legislative Proposal 480.
This proposal poses a threat to the Texas National Guard and would sideline Governors as the commander-in-chief of our National Guards.
More: https://t.co/feaMQNHgb0 pic.twitter.com/OhWz6ryXB7
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) May 6, 2024
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent his own letter to Chairmen Reed and Rogers, Ranking Members Wicker and Smith, and DOD Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“As a low-lying, storm-prone state, Florida is uniquely vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding that require significant, operationally ready logistics and disaster support, including from our National Guard units,” DeSantis wrote. “Given Florida’s large population and its geographic susceptibility to major natural disasters, the Florida National Guard should be larger than it currently is. Indeed, because the Federal Government has under-resourced the Florida National Guard relative to other large states, the Florida Legislature has established the Florida State Guard to supplement and bolster response personnel that can be deployed to communities across Florida.”
“While Florida is committed to the success of Space Force and our national security, it is not possible to effectively protect our nation from foreign enemies when we cannot guarantee the safety and security of our communities here at home,” the governor continued. “This legislative proposal weakens that guarantee and sidesteps the authority of the Governor to ensure Floridians are prepared and protected to address whatever domestic emergencies may arise, especially as we approach another hurricane season.”
“LP408 could impact 1,008 Air Guard troops across 14 units in seven states, according to Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Bruno, the National Guard Association chair of the Space task force. The Space Force as a whole is made up of only a few thousand Guardians, Bruno told Fox News Digital,” the outlet reported. “Several Air National Guard members are part-time and hold civilian jobs, said Bruno, who noted that a majority would refuse to transfer, which could impact national security because new people would have to be recruited and trained to be mission capable.”
“What would happen is we would have a seven- to 10-year gap in capability and readiness,” Bruno said. “That capability gap for national security is the most important piece that we would lose, and they’re willing to take that risk.”
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