Abbott slams Biden proposal to incorporate Air National Guard servicemembers into the Space Force

05/07/2024 / By Laura Harris

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has accused the administration of President Joe Biden of “power grabbing” with the White House’s proposal to incorporate state Air National Guard servicemembers into the United States Space Force.

Abbott is opposing Legislative Proposal 480, sent by the Department of Defense’s Department of the Air Force to the Senate Armed Services Committee in March that asked Congress to override an existing law requiring governors to approve changes to National Guard units with the goal of shifting several hundred members of Air National Guard units into the Space Force.

“President Biden and his admin are making a power grab for the National Guard. They want to give the Secretaries unilateral authority to dismantle National Guard units on a whim. Governors must not be sidelined as commander-in-chief of our National Guards,” Abbott wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

In a letter addressed to Biden, Abbott argued that Legislative Proposal 480 of the U.S. Air Force would give them unilateral authority to dismantle National Guard units at their discretion. Abbott warned that such a move would sideline governors, who traditionally serve as the commander-in-chief of their respective National Guards.

“In recent years, members of the Texas National Guard have heroically responded to hurricanes, wildfires and a variety of other disasters, including the one at the Texas-Mexico border. Legislative Proposal 480, put forth by the U.S. Department of the Air Force, poses an intolerable threat to the Texas National Guard. Congress has long required the consent of a governor before units can be transferred out of the National Guard he commands,” wrote Abbott. (Related: Gov. Abbott, a neocon Zionist, sent TROOPS to Texas universities to brutally assault pro-Palestine students.)

“By departing from this sensible arrangement and allowing the Secretaries to dismantle National Guard units on a whim, Legislative Proposal 480 would set a dangerous precedent. Members of the Texas National Guard must always stand ready to respond to natural disasters, civil disturbances and cartel activity that threaten our way of life. Instead of attempting such a power grab in Congress, the U.S. Department of the Air Force should work with the affected governors to build up the Space Force in a way that is consistent with federal law.”

Governors unite against Legislative Proposal 480 of the U.S. Air Force

Abbott is not alone in his opposition to Legislative Proposal 480

A few days before he wrote a letter to Biden, governors representing 48 states, territories and commonwealths also wrote a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in opposition to the proposal.

“Legislation that sidesteps, eliminates or otherwise reduces Governors’ authority within their states and territories undermines longstanding partnerships, precedence, military readiness and operational efficacy,” the letter stated. “This action also negatively affects the important relationships between Governors and DOD at a time when we need to have full trust and confidence between the two to meet the growing threats posed by the era of strategic competition as well as natural disasters.”

“LP480 also poses a threat to the careers of state-based service members who will be forced to choose between state service or continuing in their current field at a time when there are already significant recruitment challenges. An action like this will violate the trust of the brave women and men who have volunteered to serve our states and our nation,” the governors continued.

Aside from Abbott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the only one absent from the signatories. Instead, DeSantis penned his own letter addressed to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Armed Services committees.

“This legislative proposal weakens that guarantee and sidesteps the authority of the Governor to ensure Floridians are prepared and protected to address whatever domestic emergencies may arise, especially as we approach another hurricane season,” he wrote.

Watch this special report from the Next News Network as anchor Gary Franchi discusses the ongoing battle between Texas and Abbott and the federal government and the Supreme Court.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.