Gov. Kristi Noem joined with 47 other state governors in signing a letter opposing a proposal that would move some Air National Guard service members into the Space Force.
A new legislative proposal submitted by the Department of Defense aims to convert some Air National Guard personnel and equipment that are already being used on space missions to the Space Force.
The proposal would require Congress to override current United States code that gives governors the ultimate authority over state National Guard units.
In response, the National Governors Association wrote a letter in opposition to the proposal which was submitted to the Secretary of Defense. Forty-eight state governors and five territorial governors signed it.
The letter said the transfer of Air National Guard members to the Space Force would ultimately weaken individual states’ fighting forces. It said the proposal “sidesteps” a governor’s authority and conflicts with multiple areas of United States code.
In addition, the letter stresses the negative impact such legislation would have on the relationship between the DOD and the governors.
Not all governors agreed. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not sign the letter. Both states have a vested interest in the Space Force and are home to NASA operations.
According to the U.S. National Guard's website, the change would affect roughly 1,000 Air National Guard service members across 14 units. None of the impacted units are based in South Dakota.
The personnel the Air Force wants to see transferred to the Space Force currently provide 30% of the U.S. military’s space operations and 60% of its electromagnetic warfare capability, according to the letter.
Those in favor of the proposed legislation said aligning these airmen with the Space Force will enable them to train more effectively. They said it could also open the door to the creation of a Space National Guard.
