Washington – Defense Secretary Robert Gates has rejected a proposal to let governors command active-duty troops responding to disasters, officials said Wednesday, though the Pentagon will grant National Guard leaders more authority to coordinate with other military and homeland security agencies.
Gates told Congress on Wednesday that he had approved 20 of 23 changes recommended recently by an independent commission in an effort to improve Guard funding, gear and coordination in emergencies.
His comments came after recent Kansas tornadoes highlighted deficiencies with Guard equipment and gaps in planning that were exposed by several Gulf Coast hurricanes more than 18 months ago.
Gates did not reveal which recommendations from the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves were rejected. But two defense officials said he didn’t agree with the panel’s suggestion that governors be allowed to direct active duty troops responding to emergencies in their states. The officials requested anonymity because Gates’ decisions on the report have not yet been made public.
Governors have authority over their own National Guard troops during state disasters, but the U.S. military takes command if the Guard is federalized by the president, such as in major crises such as the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
