RELEASE: Bustos Slams Defense Dept.'s Failure to Answer Why Certain States are Favored in COVID-19 National Guard Response

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) responded to the Department of Defense's failure to explain why the current Administration requires some states to pay for a portion of National Guard COVID-19 response efforts, while fully funding others.

The Department of Defense recently issued a response to lawmakers' inquiries about changes in the federal cost-share of National Guard deployments which burden some states with millions in unforeseen expenses, while exempting a total of five states from any cost. The letter offers no insight into the Administration's decision on the policy change and does not explain why states such as Florida, Texas and Arizona, have been exempted, while states like Michigan and Nevada have had their requests for full coverage denied.

"The Department of Defense has offered no explanation for why it stuck some cash-strapped states with the bill for COVID-19 response efforts, and their response raises more questions than it answers.

"While the federal government has historically paid the full share of costs for the National Guard to deploy for disaster relief efforts, the Administration has chosen to shirk their responsibility when it comes to COVID-19.

"Picking and choosing favorites with disaster relief funding is a dangerous game that puts American lives at risk. There are 50 states in our nation, not five, and the President should learn that he is responsible for all of them. Each state deserves to be supported in its response to the pandemic, whether they're on the President's favored list or not.

"I introduced the UNITED Act to fully restore federal funding for the National Guard's coronavirus efforts, so that Americans aren't left to continue to suffer while the Administration continues to play political games."

BACKGROUND

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, members of the National Guard have been deployed across the country to assist with public health responses.

Congresswoman Bustos recently introduced new legislation to force the Trump Administration to cover the full cost of National Guard deployments for COVID-19 response efforts in every state. Currently, only Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, and Texas receive full cost coverage.

Congresswoman Bustos also recently led a call of more than 30 lawmakers urging the Trump Administration to extend the activations of men and women in the National Guard for the entire duration of the declared disasters and emergencies so they can continue to assist with the nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic uninterrupted. The letter demands the Administration explain the change in the federal cost-share of National Guard deployments which will force struggling states to cover a quarter of the cost, resulting in states being burdened with millions in unforeseen expenses. The lawmakers also raised concerns about why Florida and Texas were initially the only states exempt from the new cost-share agreements. Three additional states were later exempted, with no explanation provided.

The Administration has also failed to implement a reliable plan for how long members of the National Guard will be activated. Rather than provide consistency to servicemembers and states, the Administration has frequently waited until the last minute to extend activations that were set to expire soon -- leaving states in the lurch as they continue to respond to the pandemic and servicemembers facing an uncertain future.

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