Amid a groundswell of bipartisan opposition, an Air Force proposal that seeks to move National Guard space units to the Space Force without gubernatorial consent is facing significant hurdles in Congress.
The proposed legislation in question, known as Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480), has roused significant resistance from across the political spectrum, including all governors across the nation’s states and territories. The governors have collectively voiced their disapproval, arguing that LP 480 would weaken their authority, contravene well-established precedents, and potentially impair the readiness and operational effectiveness of the National Guard units.
Asked about the governors’ opposition at a Senate hearing Wednesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Air Force is working to explain the rationale behind the proposal to them. “This measure will affect, I believe, a small number of people, but certainly I understand the governors’ concerns, and we owe it to the governors to engage them on it, and that’s why [the] secretary of the Air Force has recently engaged them personally on this issue,” Austin said.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., who previously offered a strong endorsement of the Air Force proposal, told Military.com on Tuesday that, while he still supports the idea, it’s the Air Force’s job to sway the naysayers. “It’s not my idea. I’m not campaigning for it. It’s their job to sell it. If they can’t sell it, that’s their problem,” Rogers said.
The traditional dual role of the National Guard, responding to state needs as well as national security demands. The letter, which has garnered the support of a notable contingent of both House and Senate committee members, categorically urges the congressional leaders to exclude LP 480 from the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
LP480 also “negatively affects the important relationships” between the states and the Department of Defense “at a time when we need to have full trust and confidence between the two to meet the growing threats posed by the era of strategic competition as well as natural disasters,” Florida would be impacted if the Florida Air National Guard’s 114th Electronic Warfare Squadron is transferred to the Space Force. Furthermore, an internal survey highlighted by Air National Guard leaders revealed a preference among affected personnel to retire or retrain rather than transition into the Space Force.
Relevant articles:
– With Mounting Opposition, Proposal to Move Guard Units to Space Force Appears Doomed in Congress, Military, 05/10/2024
– Capito, Bipartisan Colleagues Oppose Air Force Proposal to Override Governors’ Authority, Reassign National Guard Units in NDAA, Shelley Moore Capito, 05/07/2024
– 53 U.S. states, territories oppose transfer of National Guard units to Space Force – The Heartlander, Heartlander News, 05/07/2024
– five members of Congress oppose Space Force National Guard proposal, Washington Examiner, 05/07/2024
– Colorado officials continue push against proposal to shift National Guard authority from governors • Colorado Newsline, Colorado Newsline, 05/07/2024