District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act
The District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act would shift authority over the District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) from the President (and federal military structures) to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. In effect, the bill seeks to give DC’s local chief executive the same level of control over administration, readiness, and use of the DCNG that state governors have over their state National Guards. To accomplish this, the bill makes broad conforming amendments across DC law and federal law (notably titles 10 and 32 of the U.S. Code) to replace references to the President and to DC’s “commanding general” with the Mayor as the Commander-in-Chief and chief executive for the DCNG. It also adjusts who can approve active-duty calls, unit relocations, officer appointments, and other personnel matters, and it includes a conforming update to the DC Home Rule Act. In short, the bill would localize control of the DCNG, empower the Mayor to oversee its administration and use (including responses to natural disasters and civil disturbances), and update multiple statutory references to reflect the new structure. Federal law duties and relationships with the National Guard Bureau would be realigned to recognize the Mayor as the relevant executive authority for DCNG matters in place of the President and the existing DC National Guard framework.
Key Points
- 1Authority shift to the Mayor: The Mayor of DC would become Commander-in-Chief and general authorizing authority over the DC National Guard, aligning DC with how state governors manage their Guards (e.g., for administration, training, and use in disasters or civil disturbances).
- 2Comprehensive conforming amendments: The bill amends numerous provisions in the District of Columbia Official Code and in Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code to replace references to the “President of the United States” or the “commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard” with the “Mayor of the District of Columbia.” This covers appointments, orders, training, active-duty authorization, and related duties.
- 3Appointment and leadership changes: The Mayor would replace the President in key roles, including appointment of commissioned officers, senior National Guard Bureau liaison roles for DC, and other leadership/credentialing functions.
- 4Active duty, relocation, and mobilization: The Mayor would have authority to consent to and direct active-duty or relocation of DCNG units and personnel, aligning more closely with how state Guards operate when called to federal duty or deployed in state missions.
- 5DC Home Rule Act adjustment: The bill would amend the DC Home Rule Act to remove a specific reference to the National Guard, signaling a broader formalization of the Mayor’s standalone authority over the DCNG within the local governance framework.