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The Adjutants General Association of the United States and NGAUS have called on congressional defense leaders to include the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
The bill would ensure Guard units receive state payments intended to cover the cost to maintain, repair or replace federal equipment used in state-directed emergencies.
“Over the years, our nation has demanded more of the National Guard,” stated retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president, in a letter today to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees.
“Guardsmen willingly answer the nation’s call to respond to natural disasters, address civil disturbances, and deter against foreign adversaries,” he said. “For Guardsmen to continue this optempo, they must have equipment that is appropriately maintained and mission ready.”
The AGAUS sent a similar letter Sept. 4 signed individually by the vast majority of the 54 adjutants general.
“We respectfully ask for your help to streamline this process and request that the Guarding Readiness Resources Act be included in the FY26 NDAA. Any delays will continue to impact readiness,” they said.
Both letters were sent to Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, and Adam Smith, D-Wash., the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
Under current law, states must pay to use the equipment to compensate for the resulting wear and tear, but the payments go to the U.S. Treasury Department. Often, the funds never reach the affected units.
“As a result, states and units are left to absorb the costs internally, which only exacerbates limited resources and delays essential repairs,” McGinn noted.
The bill would allow reimbursements to be directed to the units through the National Guard Bureau.
The letter of the 54, an effort led by Maj. Gen. Fran Evon, Jr., the adjutant general of Connecticut and AGAUS president, reflects how important the TAGs believe the measure is to maintaining Guard readiness.
Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., sponsored the bill (S. 807) in the Senate, where it now has 18 bipartisan co-sponsors.
Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., a member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced the measure in the House (H.R. 1695). Reps. Greg Murphy, R-N.C, Don Davis, D-N.C, and Joe Neguse, D-Colo., are co-leads.
A one-page fact sheet on the Guarding Readiness Resources Act is available here.
—By Jennifer Hickey
