It hasn’t been very long since the Pentagon and the Guard came to blows over closure of ANG bases and realignment of ANG flying units. Now, say Guard sympathizers, the Pentagon is failing to consult with Guard officials on upcoming force cuts. A recent NGAUS statement noted there are “continuing media reports of imminent troop cuts” and yet “no official Pentagon disclosure of details.” Koper complained: “It is most unfortunate that these proposals appear to be in progress without participation by the National Guard Bureau, the statutory line of communication between the Department of Defense … and the respective states.” Koper’s letter invited Congress—which is politically congenial to the Guard—to step in.
The Pentagon is counting on Congress to navigate a legislative tightrope and pass a party-line bill to fund nearly a quarter of its $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal 2027, including billions of dollars for top priorities like Golden Dome, the F-35, munitions, and unmanned systems. Experts and lawmakers from…