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WASHINGTON (March 13, 2025) — The voice of more than 45,000 current and former National Guard officers applauds bipartisan legislation introduced Tuesday in the House and Senate to create a Space National Guard.
The Space National Guard Establishment Act would transform 14 Air National Guard units with space missions across seven states into an operational reserve component of the U.S. Space Force.
The units are in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York and Ohio. They provide 30% of the military's space operations squadrons and 60% of its electromagnetic warfare capabilities, including missile warning, satellite command and secure communications.
Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., introduced the bill in the Senate. Co-sponsors include Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Rick Scott, R-Fla.
Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., launched identical legislation in the House.
The bill, which follows up on a campaign promise by President Donald Trump to create a Space National Guard, would allow National Guard space units to continue supporting Space Force missions uninterrupted without any additional personnel, units or facilities.
It would also override Air Force Legislative Proposal 480, which transfers Air National Guard space professionals to a single-component Space Force without the legally required consent of their governors.
Despite widespread opposition in Congress, the proposal found its way into the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. However, most Air National Guard space professionals indicate in surveys they will not transfer, which would leave the U.S. military with a gap in space capabilities and readiness.
“National Guard space professionals are some of the most highly trained and experienced personnel in our military,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president. “For many years, NGAUS has advocated the best way to keep them in the fight is to create a Space National Guard as the primary combat reserve of the U.S. Space Force, similar to how the Army and Air National Guard currently operate with their parent services.
“The Space National Guard Establishment Act is a commonsense solution that ensures the Space Force won't have to take a knee on readiness,” McGinn added. “I thank Sens. Crapo and Hickenlooper and Reps. Crow and Boebert for leading the charge on this issue.”
Press release from Sens. Mike Crapo and John Hickenlooper | Senate Bill Text
Press release from Reps. Jason Crow and Lauren Boebert | House Bill Text
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 or 202-306-0918 to schedule an interview.
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, 147 years later, with more than 45,000 members nationwide, NGAUS has the same mission.
