Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Bipartisan Colleagues Oppose Air Force Proposal in NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, joined a group of 81 bipartisan, bicameral colleagues to call on the U.S. Senate and House Armed Service Committees to reject a flawed proposal from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) intended for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

"The original intent of the National Guard was to have a force ready to respond to the needs of their state and country. Because of this, authority was placed in the hands of each state's individual governor."

"We write regarding a deeply flawed legislative proposal put forward by the U.S. Air Force that would undermine our National Guard system," the lawmakers wrote.

"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," the lawmakers concluded.

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

"We urge the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to reject the inclusion of Legislative Proposal 480 in the FY 2025 NDAA."