Governors of 48 states and several territories are opposing a Department of Defense plan to move space-focused National Guard units into the active-duty Space Force.

The move would effect 14 units, including seven in Colorado, based in Colorado Springs, Denver and Greeley. The units work in specialized areas, such as missile warning and electromagnetic warfare.

The governors said in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin this week the proposal by the DOD to move the units into active duty undercuts governors’ authority and disregards federal law.

“Governors must maintain full authority as Commanders in Chief of these assets to effectively protect operational readiness and America’s communities,” the letter states.

It follows a letter from Gov. Jared Polis that made the same argument.

During Space Symposium in April, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall seemed to poke fun at the idea states need control of space-focused National Guard units.

“I don’t see a reason why a state needs a Space Force militia,” he said. He said the changes would effect a small percentage of guardsmen and no other changes to the Air National Guard were planned.

The guardsmen would have the opportunity to work part-time for the Space Force, although the details of that plan remain unclear.

Space-focused reservists in the 310th Space Wing in Colorado Springs are expected to transfer into the Space Force and that could lay a foundation for guardsmen.

Kendall said he believed the fight over the future of space-focused units was getting far more political attention than it deserves. National attention has only mounted in this week with a largely united opposition from governors. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were the only governors who did not sign the letter.

During a round-table Friday, National Guard leaders highlighted additional problems with moving guardsmen into the active duty Space Force.

Gen. Michael Bruno, director of joint staff for the  Colorado National Guard, noted that between 70% of 86% of the guardsmen across all seven states would quit if forced to transfer into the active duty.

Replacing that expertise could cost up to $1 billion and take seven to 10 years, he said.

Creating a Space National Guard instead would allow the units to continue working at the same places doing the same job and only $250,000 to cover the cost of new clothing and unit signage and other small items, he said.

“A Space National Guard is the right answer,” he said.

While there are no plans to move existing space-focused units if they transferred into the active duty military, future secretaries of the Air Force could move units with 120 days notice under the pending DOD proposal, he said.

Members of existing space-focused units said they want the certainty working in the National Guard provides so they can support their families and their communities. Active duty service members are constantly moving around the country.

Capt. Bonn Franks, with the 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron based at Peterson Space Force Base, said even 120 days wouldn’t be enough time to transfer to a new location with his civilian job.

He also underscored the importance guardsmen place on serving their local communities in times of crisis. While on active-duty in Colorado Springs, his unit was unable to help during the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire.

“We went through all this training and weren’t able to do anything for a very devastating fire,” he said, during Friday’s roundtable.

Congress asked the DOD to study the options for the units, including leaving the units where they are, creating a Space National Guard and moving them into the Space Force.

Kendall said that report shows moving the units is the best option and the worst option is a new Space National Guard because of the added administration.

The report was released to Congress yesterday, but was not immediately available to the media.

Governors of 48 states and several territories are opposing a Department of Defense plan to move space-focused National Guard units into the active-duty Space Force.

The move would effect 14 units, including seven in Colorado, based in Colorado Springs, Denver and Greeley. The units work in specialized areas, such as missile warning and electromagnetic warfare.

The governors said in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin this week the proposal by the DOD to move the units into active duty undercuts governors’ authority and disregards federal law.

“Governors must maintain full authority as Commanders in Chief of these assets to effectively protect operational readiness and America’s communities,” the letter states.

It follows a letter from Gov. Jared Polis that made the same argument.

During Space Symposium in April, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall seemed to poke fun at the idea states need control of space-focused National Guard units.

“I don’t see a reason why a state needs a Space Force militia,” he said. He said the changes would effect a small percentage of guardsmen and no other changes to the Air National Guard were planned.

The guardsmen would have the opportunity to work part-time for the Space Force, although the details of that plan remain unclear.

Space-focused reservists in the 310th Space Wing in Colorado Springs are expected to transfer into the Space Force and that could lay a foundation for guardsmen.

Kendall said he believed the fight over the future of space-focused units was getting far more political attention than it deserves. National attention has only mounted in this week with a largely united opposition from governors. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were the only governors who did not sign the letter.

During a round-table Friday, National Guard leaders highlighted additional problems with moving guardsmen into the active duty Space Force.

Gen. Michael Bruno, director of joint staff for the Colorado National Guard, noted that between 70% of 86% of the guardsmen across all seven states would quit if forced to transfer into the active duty.

Replacing that expertise could cost up to $1 billion and take seven to 10 years, he said.

Creating a Space National Guard instead would allow the units to continue working at the same places doing the same job and only $250,000 to cover the cost of new clothing and unit signage and other small items, he said.

“A Space National Guard is the right answer,” he said.

While there are no plans to move existing space-focused units if they transferred into the active duty military, future secretaries of the Air Force could move units with 120 days notice under the pending DOD proposal, he said.

Members of existing space-focused units said they want the certainty working in the National Guard provides so they can support their families and their communities. Active duty service members are constantly moving around the country.

Capt. Bonn Franks, with the 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron based at Peterson Space Force Base, said even 120 days wouldn’t be enough time to transfer to a new location with his civilian job.

He also underscored the importance guardsmen place on serving their local communities in times of crisis. While on active-duty in Colorado Springs, his unit was unable to help during the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire.

“We went through all this training and weren’t able to do anything for a very devastating fire,” he said, during Friday’s roundtable.

Congress asked the DOD to study the options for the units, including leaving the units where they are, creating a Space National Guard and moving them into the Space Force.

Kendall said that report shows moving the units is the best option and the worst option is a new Space National Guard because of the added administration.

The report was released to Congress yesterday, but was not immediately available to the media.