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President Donald Trump on Feb. 19 announced eight new appointments to the 10-member Council of Governors.
The bipartisan group of state leaders serves as a forum for governors and federal officials to enhance collaboration on disaster response, National Guard operations and military integration within the states.
The COG was established by the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act and formally created by executive order in 2010. It consists of five Democrats and five Republicans.
Gov. Josh Stein, D-N.C., and Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., are now the co-chairs.
Council members include Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., Gov. Jeff Landry, R-La., Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich., Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., and Gov. Henry McMaster, R-S.C.
McMaster and Whitmer are the only holdovers from the group then-President Joe Biden appointed in 2023.
U.S. presidents typically appoint a new council every two years.
The new COG met Feb. 20 in Washington, D.C., for its 30th Plenary Meeting during the annual National Governors Association Winter Meeting. All 10 members participated, in person or virtually.
During the meeting, the governors focused on strategic budget trends, processes for streamlining communication and consultation between the COG and the Defense Department, Guard priorities, and disaster response coordination between states and the federal government.
The COG also heard from several White House and Pentagon officials, including Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, the National Guard Bureau chief.
—By John Goheen
