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WASHINGTON (April 11, 2024) — The voice of more than 45,000 current and former National Guard officers today applauded Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., for recently co-sponsoring Senate legislation to create a Space National Guard.
Barrasso brings to 16 the number of co-sponsors of the Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2024 (S. 3697), which Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced Jan. 31, 2024.
The legislation would create a National Guard component under the Space Force from the approximately 1,000 Air National Guard space professionals in 14 units across seven states.
The units provide 30% of the U.S. military’s space operations squadrons and 60% of its electromagnetic warfare capability.
“We greatly appreciate Senator Barrasso adding to the momentum in the Senate to create a Space National Guard,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president.
It is now clear that the Air Force prefers transferring Air National Guard space assets into the active-component Space Force.
However, such a transfer legally requires the consent of the governors of the states. Some have already said they will not approve of the move.
Additionally, nearly 90% of the airmen affected have indicated in surveys that they do not wish to leave the National Guard. Many are part time, and there are currently no part-time positions in the Space Force. That means the 14 units would have to be rebuilt from scratch.
The National Guard Bureau estimates it would take up to nine years and close to $1 billion to fill this void at a time when China and Russia are expanding their anti-satellite capabilities.
“A Space National Guard really is the common-sense solution to maintain the continuity of what National Guard space professionals provide the nation,” McGinn said.
The 16 co-sponsors now include:
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska
- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz.
- Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif.
- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.
- Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.
- Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.
- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho
- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho
- Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.
- Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
- Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
- Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.
- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
Air National Guard space units are in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York and Ohio.
The House included the legislation in its version of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
NGAUS: The association was created in 1878 to provide united Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by petitioning Congress for more resources. Today, 146 years later with more than 45,000 members nationwide, NGAUS has the same mission.
