Legislators object to Air National Guard relocation to Space Force

A bipartisan group of 85 lawmakers are urging their congressional leaders to oppose a Biden administration proposal that would remove state governors’ authority over the Air National Guard space operations.

The Air Force’s Legislative Proposal 480, which has been included in the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, would give U.S. Space Force authority over relevant National Guard units from governors, who have held that responsibility for more than 100 years.

Twenty-nine senators and 56 House members signed on to a letter addressed to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, which was released Tuesday morning, citing a report by the Washington Examiner.

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., founding co-chair of the Space Force Caucus; Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., a member of the House Armed Services Committee; Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., spearheaded the letter, as reported by The Hill.

“The original intent of the National Guard was to have a force ready to respond to the needs of their state and country,” the letter states. “Because of this, authority was placed in the hands of each state’s individual governor. We urge the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to reject the inclusion of Legislative Proposal 480 in the FY2025 NDAA.”

The letter added that the legislative proposal is “deeply flawed” and said, “Congress has a duty to maintain the integrity and longstanding tradition of the National Guard, and a proposal of this magnitude threatens to undermine over 120 years of precedent.”

All but two governors signed a letter last week opposing the Pentagon’s plan to unilaterally move some Air National Guard units into the U.S. Space Force, stating it “undermines over 100 years of precedent.” (Source: Newsmax)

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis did not sign that letter, but each has criticized the Biden administration’s proposal.

Abbott argued that the move is a “threat” to the Texas National Guard, as reported by Yahoo News. DeSantis also opposed the move, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The proposed transfer would involve approximately 700 National Guard members moving into Space Force roles, as stated by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall in testimony to lawmakers last month.

The proposal would waive Section 104 of Title 32 and Section 18238 of Title 10 of the U.S. code, which stipulate that no changes can be made in the branch, organization, or allotment of a unit located entirely within a state without the approval of its governor, and that National Guard units cannot be relocated or withdrawn without the consent of the governor, as reported by the Examiner.