Nearly every U.S. governor, regardless of political affiliation, has expressed opposition to the Biden administration’s plan to transfer Air National Guard service members into the Space Force. In a letter to the Department of Defense, 53 governors voiced strong opposition to the proposal, citing concerns about national security, military readiness, and the potential violation of longstanding precedents. The governors argued that governors must maintain full authority as Commanders in Chief of these assets to effectively protect operational readiness and America’s communities.
The letter, signed by Democrats such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, highlighted the importance of maintaining trust and confidence between governors and the Department of Defense to address growing threats posed by strategic competition and natural disasters. The only two U.S. governors who did not sign the letter were Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Texas’ Greg Abbott, both Republicans. The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) has also criticized the proposals and called for the creation of a separate Space National Guard instead.
The 14 units that could be moved to the Space Force, consisting of 1,000 Guardsmen across several states, provide a significant portion of the U.S. military’s space operations squadrons and electromagnetic warfare capability. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has defended the proposals, stating that the disruption caused by the transfer of a few hundred people is negligible. Kendall also rejected the idea that separate states should have their own military space forces, arguing that a state does not need a Space Force militia.
Despite the opposition from governors and the NGAUS, the Department of Defense has maintained its stance on the plan to shift space units from the Air National Guard to the Space Force. The Defense Department sent a legislative proposal to Congress in March to bypass existing laws requiring governors’ consent for such changes. This move has sparked debate and drawn attention to the issue, with differing perspectives on the implications of integrating Air National Guard service members into the Space Force. The White House and the Department of Defense have not yet commented on the matter.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address the concerns raised by governors and the NGAUS regarding the transfer of Air National Guard units to the Space Force. The conflicting views on this issue highlight the complexities of military organization and the challenges of balancing national security interests with the need for effective coordination and communication between federal and state authorities. The outcome of this debate could have significant implications for the future of military readiness and the relationship between governors and the Department of Defense.
