Despite Setback, Norton Optimistic House NDAA Will Give D.C. Mayor Control Over D.C. National Guard

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that, despite the House Committee on Armed Services yesterday defeating an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have given the District of Columbia mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, she is optimistic that the version of the fiscal year 2023 NDAA the House passes will give the mayor this authority. Representative Anthony Brown (D-MD), a co-lead of Norton's bill that would give the mayor this authority, offered the amendment, which was defeated by voice vote.

"I am deeply disappointed the House Committee on Armed Services defeated an amendment that would have given the D.C. mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, especially after the version of the NDAA the committee passed last year gave the mayor this authority and especially after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol," Norton said. "The defeat is a setback for D.C. home rule and public safety in D.C. However, with a Democratic House, which supports D.C. statehood and home rule, I am optimistic that the version of the NDAA the House passes this year will give the mayor this authority. I am grateful to Representative Anthony Brown, who is a champion of D.C. statehood and home rule, for offering this amendment."

"I want to thank Congresswoman Norton for her tireless advocacy on behalf of the District of Columbia. The amendment offered last night during the House Armed Services Committee mark-up giving the D.C. mayor the power to deploy the National Guard during local emergencies like every other state and jurisdiction is commonsense and essential to public safety," said Congressman Anthony Brown. "This provision was passed by the House in last year's NDAA, and that's exactly what we intend to push when this legislation comes to the floor. The residents of D.C. deserve the same protections and accountability from their leaders as every other American."

In fiscal year 2022, the version of the NDAA the House Committee on Armed Services passed gave the D.C. mayor control over the D.C. National Guard. A Republican amendment to strike the provision in committee was defeated on a party-line vote. When the House passed its version of the fiscal year 2022 NDAA, it was the first time in history either chamber had passed a bill giving the mayor this authority. The enacted version of the fiscal year 2022 NDAA did not give the mayor this authority because of Republican opposition.

The president controls the D.C. National Guard while the governors of the states and territories control their National Guards.

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