Dozens of federal lawmakers oppose Air Force proposal to reassign National Guard units out of governors’ authority

Opposition rose this week against a proposal from the U.S. Air Force within the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), over its push to transfer National Guard units performing space missions to the U.S. Space Force without governors’ approval.

A group of 81 senators and representatives objected to Legislative Proposal 480, deeming it deeply flawed in a letter to the U.S. Senate and House Armed Service Committees. The legislators also accused it of potentially undermining the entire National Guard system.

“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 wrote. “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.”

At risk, they argued, was more than 120 years of precedent. Instead, the proposal would turn National Guard members who perform space missions into part-timers under a full-time Space Force, without prior consent from a state’s governor. Currently, only governors can approve changes to the branch, organization or allotment of National Guard units. Last month, governors of states and territories alike united in opposition against the idea.

“We recognize the Air Force is evolving to address future threats, but there are other options available to the Air Force to accomplish this evolution that don’t undo an important foundation of our state National Guard system established by Congress.”

Opposition is being led by U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), alongside U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Joe Wilson (R-SC). They seek to reject the proposal from inclusion in the NDAA at all.