Today, Governor Jared Polis called on the Department of Defense to retain Colorado’s authority over Colorado Air National Guard space units.
Colorado National Guard. Image courtesy of CNG Facebook group.
This call was in response to a legislative proposal from the Department of the Air Force for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would strip Colorado Air National Guard space units from the state and would override existing law that requires Governor consent before National Guard units can be removed from a state.
According to the governor’s office, the removal of these units from Colorado would negatively impact state-based citizen service members, and create significant national security issues.
Polis is vice-chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association. He has led a successful effort to include language in the resolution laying out NGA’s 2024 priorities to ensure that state governors retain the authority to control their own National Guard personnel. The language from the resolution adopted by the full NGA reads:
“Ensure the National Guard is equipped with adequate resources and capabilities to serve as the operational reserve for national security missions as well as support domestic emergencies while ensuring that Governors retain the authority to control the National Guard personnel as laid out in U.S.C. Title 32, Section 104.”
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Austin, Polis wrote, “I will continue to oppose any involuntary removals of Colorado Air National Guard space units and personnel as well as any reductions to the Colorado National Guard’s force structure … This direct override of gubernatorial authority to exercise control over the units that are permanently based or removed from their respective states flies in the face of over 120 years of military tradition, organizational structure and efficacy, and precedent. This action would threaten the ability of the National Guard to serve as the operational combat reserve for national security missions as well as its ability to support domestic emergencies. Both of these outcomes are unacceptable.”
Colorado National Guard leadership have also expressed strong opposition to this proposal to Congress and what it references as “its detrimental implications on the structure and organization of the National Guard.” It goes on to add “Colorado stands firm on its commitment to protect its service members from wrongful actions taken against units, and continues to urge the proposed legislation to not move forward.”
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