Washington, D.C. – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued the following statement today reinforcing Governors’ united commitment to uphold long-standing federal laws that require gubernatorial approval before making changes that impact the National Guard:
“Governors are Commanders-in-Chief of our states’ National Guards, and as such co-equal partners in the American system of government. We are particularly alarmed by indications that Space Force leadership is aggressively pushing a plan to fully implement Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) and remove units from states by the end of the year. There has still been no formal notification to, coordination with, or consent obtained from the impacted states. This violates federal law and undermines the principles of cooperative federalism and the essential role that Governors play in maintaining the readiness of the National Guard, and by extension ensuring the safety, wellbeing and security of our states and nation.
“Governors must be part of the conversation from the start, as has been the precedent for over 120 years. We were alarmed when the prior administration pursued this course of action, and we remain alarmed it’s continuing to happen now. We urge that any transfers cease immediately and that there be direct and open engagement with Governors. States and territories must be consulted and Governor consent must be obtained before any further action is taken.
“The National Governors Association calls on federal agencies to work transparently and in true partnership with states and territories as this process unfolds. Governors stand united in the belief that any actions impacting the National Guard, including LP480, must be done with the explicit consent of the Governors of the affected states. Governors from all 55 states and territories have repeatedly urged Congress to reject LP 480, which would reassign specified Air National Guard units to the U.S. Space Force without the legally required consent of Governors. National Guard assets are not only critical to national security and military readiness—they are also essential to a Governor’s ability to respond swiftly to emergencies and natural disasters. Military partnership between the states and the nation as a whole has served as an integral pillar of the American system. As such, Governors must maintain full authority as Commanders in Chief of their National Guard units within their states and territories in order to ensure military readiness, protect the communities they serve and maintain the American way of life.”
