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The Senate’s version of the annual defense policy bill passed with a critical provision to ensure the Guard has adequate funds needed to repair and maintain equipment used in state emergencies.
The version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act approved in the Senate included the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act, a bill that would mandate Guard units receive appropriate reimbursements for the use of federal equipment in state missions.
“While the law allows for federal reimbursement, it is executed in such a way that states never see those much-needed funds. This creates substantial budget gaps that threaten the readiness of the force. The Guarding Readiness Resources Act corrects this oversight and ensures the National Guard has the necessary resources to effectively fulfill their mission,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president.
It was one of almost 50 noncontroversial amendments approved by voice vote.
Also approved was an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., to clarify that the transfer of Air National Guard personnel to the Space Force is a one-time event and does not establish a precedent for waiving state control of the National Guard unless federalized.
The fiscal 2025 NDAA provided the authority for this transfer.
Amendments to limit a president’s ability to send Guard units to another state without the consent of the governor, and to limit the use of Federal law enforcement officers for crowd control were both defeated.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., blocked the Senate from moving forward with a vote until she secured a commitment from the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing on the Guard’s deployment to American cities.
The Senate and House now proceed to a conference committee to hammer out the differences between the two bills.
—By Jennifer Hickey
