The creation of a Space National Guard is getting a groundswell of support from Congress as bipartisan groups of lawmakers are submitting bills in both chambers to build it and eliminate an old proposal to move certain Air National Guard units from the states into the Space Force.
Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., filed a bill late Tuesday evening on the new Guard branch -- a plan also backed by President Donald Trump on the campaign trail -- and companion legislation was submitted by Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. Several units that would be affected by the bill belong to the Colorado National Guard.
"Establishing a Space National Guard will better prepare and streamline the work of our existing space personnel to maintain readiness to respond to and thwart attacks from our adversaries," Crapo said in a statement provided to Military.com.
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The bills represent an effort that seemingly surpasses partisan politics and is likely an easy legislative win for supporters. While past efforts to create a Space National Guard have been stymied in Congress, the new administration has expressed support for the idea.
Trump, who established the Space Force in 2019, explicitly said in August that "as president, I will sign historic legislation creating a Space National Guard."
Senate co-sponsors include Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho; Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; and Rick Scott, R-Fla.
Additionally, the bill aims to replace Legislative Proposal 480, an Air Force effort first reported on by Military.com under former President Joe Biden's administration that aimed to transfer Air National Guard units with space missions into the active-duty Space Force -- bypassing state governors who oversee their Guard units.
The move was widely condemned by every governor in the country and a large, bipartisan number of lawmakers.
National Guard lobbyists have consistently rallied against the transfer of the Air National Guard units into the Space Force and believe a Space National Guard is the best way to have reserve forces. The Biden administration was against the creation of a space-focused Guard, labeling it too costly.
Retired Maj. Gen. Francis McGinn, president of the National Guard Association of the United States, which lobbies for issues connected to the reserve component, praised the Crapo and Hickenlooper bill.
"For many years, NGAUS has advocated the best way to keep them in the fight is to create a Space National Guard as the primary combat reserve of the U.S. Space Force, similar to how the Army and Air National Guard currently operate with their parent services," McGinn said. "The Space National Guard Establishment Act is a common-sense solution that ensures the Space Force won't have to take a knee on readiness."
The Space National Guard would consist of units from Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York and Ohio, according to a copy of the bill text provided to Military.com. The text also states that a one-star general will be the director of the reserve component and will report to the director of the Air National Guard.
Creation of the Space National Guard would "make use of facilities, infrastructure and installations constructed before the date of the enactment of this act," the bill states.
Advocates in the past said the main costs associated with a new component would consist of making new name tapes and signs, but that the units would continue their same missions from their existing locations.
"A dedicated reserve component will make sure our National Guard space experts have a clear path to continue their service to community and country," Hickenlooper said in a statement provided to Military.com, describing it as a "win-win for service members."
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