Space National Guard Legislation Introduced

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to establish a Space National Guard. The bill is sponsored by representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), a former Army Ranger, and Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and has 10 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle.

“Establishing a Space National Guard would improve communication, better support personnel, and maintain our critical defense capabilities. Now is the time to create a Space National Guard."

Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO).

The Space Force was stood up in 2019, but members of the National Guard conducting vital space missions still remain within the Air National Guard under the Air Force, a service no longer performing space missions. This has led to organizational problems and has left these members of the national guard misaligned and without clear career paths, despite their essential missions. The proposed legislation would simply correct this misalignment by designating these existing units as a reserve component of the Space Force, where they belong. This legislation would require no additional personnel, units, or facilities, and would improve communication, reduce costs, allow these dedicated space warfighters to continue supporting the Space Force’s missions at a high level.

The act, first introduced last year, would grandfather in the existing seven states and one territory (CO, CA, HI, AK, NY, OH, FL, GU) of the Air National Guard that have space-related duties into a new Space National Guard.

NAGUS Supports Establishment of a Space National Guard

The establishment of a Space National Guard is supported by the National Guard Association of the United States. In March, 50 adjutants general signed a letter to the Biden/Harris administration in support of the concept, which is strongly opposed by the administrations Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

"OMB’s opposition to a Space National Guard is based upon a demonstrated misunderstanding of the facts," the adjutants general wrote in the March 5 letter from the Adjutants General Association of the United States.

"Citing a 2020 Congressional Budget Office Report that ignored Air Force data and incorrectly presumed every state and territory would have Space National Guard units, OMB’s projected cost of creating the SNG was vastly inflated," the Guard generals said.

The National Guard Bureau estimates the actual price is about $250,000, the group wrote, a one-time expense for purchasing new signs, heraldry and uniform items. This price is "dwarfed" by the approximately $644 million it would take recreating current Guard capabilities in the active-component Space Force, the adjutants general argued.

OMB has dropped the cost argument in recent months, but now says the SNG is not needed because space is "solely a federal mission." This "misunderstands the operational nature of the National Guard," the Guard leaders explained. "Just as Army and Air Guard members fly fighter jets and attack helicopters, drive tanks, and neutralize the enemy with artillery, cannon, and rocket fire to support their federal warfighting missions, SNG members would support USSF missions — just as they do today," they added.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced similar legislation in the Senate. Both chambers considered the legislation last year. It passed in the House but stalled in the Senate.

“Establishing a Space National Guard would improve communication, better support personnel, and maintain our critical defense capabilities," said Congressman Crow. "I look forward to working with Congressman Lamborn and my bipartisan colleagues to carry this effort across the finish line.”

“I am encouraged to see more momentum and support from national defense leaders this year as we restart this conversation. Our bipartisan, economical, and sensible proposal for the creation of a Space National Guard is in the best interest of our national security," said Congressman Lamborn.

Crow and Lamborn started the House Space Force Caucus in October 2020 to help educate Members and their staff about the U.S. Space Force and advocate on the Hill on behalf of our nation's youngest military Service.

(Sources: Congressman Crow news release. NAGUS news release. Senator Rubio news release. Images from file)