Trump Proposes Creation Of Space National Guard

Former President Donald Trump pledged on August 26th to establish a Space National Guard if elected in November.

In a convention of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUSA), Trump received enthusiastic applause from approximately 1,000 National Guard officers as he emphasized the need for a space National Guard to serve as the primary combat reserve for the U.S. Space Force.

Created in December 2019, the U.S. Space Force aims to safeguard the nation’s interests within, from, and to space. Consolidating space operations under the Air Force and other entities, the Space Force became the first new branch of the armed forces in over seven decades, a significant accomplishment during Trump’s first term as President.

The Army National Guard and Air National Guard currently function as reserve units for their respective armed services, operating within the states under the governors’ authority. Likewise, seven states have established a Naval Militia, similar to but separate from the National Guard.

Trump’s statement coincides with ongoing deliberations in Congress regarding the proposed Legislative Proposal 480 put forward by the Department of Defense (DOD). The proposal suggests transferring existing National Guard units responsible for space defense to the Space Force, rather than establishing a Space Force National Guard akin to the Air National Guard.

Trump joins a group of lawmakers and governors who have expressed their objections to the DOD’s proposal. In a bipartisan letter, 85 senators and representatives urged the rejection of the proposal, emphasizing the need to preserve the National Guard’s commitment to serving both country and community.

Prior objections by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Vermont Governor Phil Scott, supported by eight other state governors, were also sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April. These governors voiced their concerns over the proposed restructuring of the National Guard without their consultation, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong federal-state relationship.

While some officers at the NGUSA convention expressed support for the creation of a Space National Guard, rather than federalizing existing space-oriented National Guard units, the officer who spoke to The Epoch Times stressed that a Space National Guard would be cost-effective and help retain talented personnel within the Guard.

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By simply changing the name tapes and affiliations of Air National Guard members to the Space National Guard, they can continue their space missions, preserving their critical skills. This flexibility enables Guard members to choose where they want to live, maintaining their commitment from locations such as Colorado or Florida.

A third officer also noted that the National Guard, sometimes seen as resistant to change, has undergone significant transformations in recent years. The objection to Legislative Proposal 480 primarily revolves around the precedent it sets by shifting Guard members from state to federal control.

While the House Armed Services Committee has approved its version of Legislative Proposal 480 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025, it has been amended to require governors’ consent for the transfer of an Air National Guard unit to the U.S. Space Force. The Senate has yet to take action on its version of the bill.

Regarding current operations, Air National Guard units in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Guam are already engaged in space operations.

The U.S. Space Force’s capabilities encompass the command and control of military satellites, secure communications provision, weather and navigation services, threat alerts to other armed services, and the tracking of all satellites and space debris orbiting Earth. Furthermore, the Department of Defense website states that systems based on the ground and in space globally monitor missile launches to prevent surprise attacks.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the National Guard Association of the United States for comment on the potential establishment of a Space National Guard.


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