The Federal Power Grab: A Warning Against the Erosion of State Authority
Published: April 23, 2025
By: Killian Yates
A sweeping consolidation of military power is underway—and the warning signs are flashing red. Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480), signed into law as part of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, allows the U.S. Space Force to seize control of state Air National Guard units performing space-related missions. This is being done without the constitutionally required consent of governors, a move that governors from all 55 states and territories have openly condemned.
“We are particularly alarmed by indications that Space Force leadership is aggressively pushing a plan to fully implement Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) and remove units from states by the end of the year. There has still been no formal notification to, coordination with, or consent obtained from the impacted states.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, leading the National Governors Association, emphasized that the current administration is continuing a policy set in motion by the last—effectively ignoring over 120 years of precedent for how federal and state military forces collaborate. This is not partisan—it is a bipartisan scream of alarm.
“Governors must be part of the conversation from the start, as has been the precedent for over 120 years.”
The National Guard Association of the United States also raised the alarm. Retired Maj. Gen. Francis McGinn warned:
“What’s the rush? To me, it’s a control thing too. For some reason, they don’t want to work with governors as has been seen in how they approached this thing right from the get-go.”
Even worse, a recent survey revealed that only 8% of space-focused Guardsmen want to join the Space Force. The remaining 92% either want to stay with their states or leave service altogether. This raises serious questions about not only control, but readiness, morale, and forced military centralization.
The Space Force does not yet have a reserve component. Unlike every other military branch, it has no National Guard equivalent—making this power grab an attempt to build its force through absorption rather than recruitment or consensus.
Sound the Alarm: This Is How Fascism Begins
This isn’t just a debate about which branch of the military runs satellites. It’s about who controls the armed forces inside state borders. Governors losing control over National Guard units is not a small matter—it’s a gateway to:
- Undermining state sovereignty
- Erasing emergency readiness for wildfires, floods, and riots
- Normalizing bypasses of elected leaders and constitutional guardrails
If governors can be ignored, so can you. If military forces can be quietly seized from under elected state leadership, how far are we from domestic deployment under federal orders? This is not hyperbole—it is historical pattern.
History teaches us this: All genocides and fascist regimes begin with normalization of central authority, silencing local power, and reclassifying armed forces under singular executive control.
What Needs to Happen
The only legal and constitutional solution is the repeal of LP 480 and the establishment of a formal Space National Guard, one that preserves governors’ oversight and respects the federalist structure of this country.
Congress is already moving to do just that. A bipartisan bill led by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) aims to dismantle LP 480 in the FY2026 NDAA.
“Sen. Crapo is still leading efforts in the Senate to repeal LP 480 in the FY2026 NDAA.”
And former President Donald Trump has even pledged that if re-elected, he will sign legislation creating a Space National Guard and return these powers to the states.
This Is Our Line in the Sand
State sovereignty is not optional. The constitutional structure is not a suggestion. When our governors are ignored, and our forces are seized, we are no longer a union of states—we are a dictatorship with divided regions. The time to resist is now. Not in 2026. Not in the next election. Today.
The Space Force and National Guard Debate: Understanding the Controversy
Published:
By: Killian Yates
A significant reorganization of military space assets is currently underway. Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480), incorporated into the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, authorizes the U.S. Space Force to incorporate state Air National Guard units performing space-related missions. This has raised concerns among state governors who argue this is proceeding without their formal consent, a point of contention given the traditional role of governors in National Guard affairs.
"We are particularly alarmed by indications that Space Force leadership is aggressively pushing a plan to fully implement Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) and remove units from states by the end of the year. There has still been no formal notification to, coordination with, or consent obtained from the impacted states."
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, representing the National Governors Association, have expressed that the current administration is continuing a policy established by the previous administration. They emphasize the importance of maintaining the collaborative approach between federal and state military forces that has been the standard practice for over a century.
"Governors must be part of the conversation from the start, as has been the precedent for over 120 years."
The National Guard Association of the United States has also voiced concerns. Retired Maj. Gen. Francis McGinn stated:
"What's the rush? To me, it's a control thing too. For some reason, they don't want to work with governors as has been seen in how they approached this thing right from the get-go."
A recent survey indicated that approximately 8% of space-focused Guardsmen expressed interest in transferring to the Space Force. The majority reportedly prefer to maintain their current status with their state units or might consider other options if transfers become mandatory. This has raised questions about personnel retention and operational readiness during this transition.
Currently, the U.S. Space Force operates without a dedicated reserve component. Unlike other military branches, it does not have an established National Guard equivalent, which has contributed to the ongoing debate about how to integrate existing space capabilities from the Air National Guard.
Constitutional and Operational Concerns
The debate extends beyond organizational structure to questions about federalism and state emergency response capabilities. Some experts and officials have expressed concerns about:
- Potential impacts on state sovereignty and military command structures
- Effects on emergency response capabilities for natural disasters and civil emergencies
- The appropriate balance between federal and state military authorities
The dual-status nature of National Guard units—serving both state governors and potentially being federalized—makes this reorganization particularly complex from both operational and constitutional perspectives.
Legislative Responses and Proposed Solutions
Several lawmakers have proposed alternative approaches, including the establishment of a formal Space National Guard, which would maintain the traditional relationship between governors and Guard units while accommodating the Space Force's organizational needs.
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) is reportedly working on legislation that would revisit LP 480 in the upcoming FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
"Sen. Crapo is still leading efforts in the Senate to repeal LP 480 in the FY2026 NDAA."
President Donald Trump has indicated support for creating a Space National Guard structure that would preserve the traditional state-federal relationship if such legislation reaches his desk.
Looking Forward
As this reorganization proceeds, important questions remain about how to balance national security imperatives with the constitutional principles of federalism. The ongoing discussion highlights the evolving nature of military space operations and the challenge of adapting traditional military structures to new domains.
For more information on this developing situation, please consult the references section below.
References and Further Reading
- U.S. Space Force - Official Information
- National Governors Association Statements
- National Guard Association of the United States News
- FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act
- Military.com: Survey on Space Force Transfers
- Space National Guard Establishment Act (Previous Session)
- Department of Defense: Space Operations
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