Peters Supports Governor Whitmer’s Call to Federally Fund Use of National Guard to Aid COVID-19 Response Efforts

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, urged President Trump to authorize federal support for the National Guard to aid in Michigan’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Yesterday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called up the Michigan National Guard to “assist the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with assembling and loading critical personal protective gear, such as gloves, gowns, and face shields.” With more than more than three hundred confirmed cases and at least five deaths, Michigan is fighting to contain the outbreak and protect public health. In a letter to the President, Peters pressed for the federal government to do more to support and empower state and local government response efforts, including the deployment of National Guard resources.

“In times of crisis, the American people look to the federal government to aid and empower response efforts,” wrote Peters, who also serves on the Armed Services Committee and is a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “Enabling the National Guard to utilize their unique capabilities in their own communities will provide much-needed reassurance for the public at this critical hour.”

Last week President Trump declared a national emergency for the Coronavirus outbreak – following Peters’ request – granting the federal government several new authorities to prevent the further spread of the virus and protect public health. Senators Peters is pressing the President to provide direct and up-front federal funding for the Guard’s activation in support of pandemic response efforts, preserving crucial and limited state resources needed to effectively address this public health crisis.

Text of the letter is copied below and available here:

March 19, 2020 

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write to urge you to consider authorizing the National Guard to support state COVID-19 response efforts under Title 32. States across the country are working quickly to contain the spread of the virus, and the federal government must do its part to empower response on the ground in the communities that need it most. This includes my home state of Michigan, where Governor Whitmer requested authorization for this action in a letter to you last night. Utilizing Title 32 authorities to activate and deploy National Guard resources is a direct and effective way to support response efforts in this crisis.

On March 13, you declared a national emergency, which granted the federal government the authority to utilize a number of actions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of these authorities is the ability to activate the National Guard for operational support in states under 32 U.S.C. § 502(f). This action allows governors to maintain command and control over their state’s National Guard to directly support the jurisdictions in their state that require assistance. The authorization would provide federal funding for pay and benefits to National Guard members, as well as the use of federally-owned equipment. This would help conserve limited state resources, because under the current emergency declaration, they incur the costs of deploying the National Guard up front – a burden that can pose challenges because the reimbursement process often exceeds six months or more before states’ treasuries receive the funds. Authorizing Title 32 authorities will streamline state response abilities and ensure that the capacities of the National Guard are utilized to the fullest extent possible.

In times of crisis, the American people look to the federal government to aid and empower response efforts. Enabling the National Guard to utilize their unique capabilities in their own communities will provide much-needed reassurance for the public at this critical hour. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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