East Idaho Times

On May 9, 2024, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in opposing a proposal from the U.S. Air Force (USAF). The proposal seeks to transfer U.S. National Guard units performing space missions to the U.S. Space Force, bypassing governor approval—a move that breaks with longstanding precedent.

The lawmakers wrote, “We write regarding a deeply flawed legislative proposal put forward by the US Air Force that would undermine our National Guard system.” They pointed out that the original intent of the National Guard was to maintain a force ready to respond to state and national needs under the authority of each state's governor. They emphasized that this is not just about governance; governors bear the responsibility for protecting their citizens by ensuring the readiness and deployability of their National Guard units.

Under the USAF’s proposal, National Guard members who perform space missions would be designated as “part-timers” under a full-time Space Force without their state governor's consent. Current laws stipulate that only governors can approve changes to the branch, organization or allotment of National Guard units.

The lawmakers concluded by stating, “Congress has a duty to maintain the integrity and longstanding tradition of the National Guard, and a proposal of this magnitude threatens to undo over 120 years of precedent.” They acknowledged that while the Air Force is evolving to address future threats, there are other options available that do not undermine an important foundation of state National Guard systems established by Congress.

Joining Senators Crapo and Risch in opposition were Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), J. D. Vance (R-Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Laphonza Butler (D-California), Tom Carper (D-Delaware), Alex Padilla (D-California), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and John Hoeven (R-North Dakota). Fifty-eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives also signed the letter.

The full text of the letter is available HERE.