The National Guard and The USNS Comfort do not require the same activation authorization. This article clears up that misconception.
Activating The National Guard
I have heard over and over that governor’s need federal approval to activate their state’s National Guard. This is incorrect.
As seen in Governor Cuomo Covid-19 And The Timeline Challenge, Cuomo did not wait for Trump’s approval to activate the National Guard. Governors do not need federal approval to activate their state’s National Guard. A search for “Do Governor’s Need Federal Approval To Activate The National Guard”returned the following.
Source: United States National Guard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Guard
National Guard active duty character
State and territory duty
- The Governor can activate National Guard personnel to “State Active Duty” in response to natural or man-made disasters or Homeland Defense missions. State Active Duty is based on State statute and policy and on State funds. Soldiers and Airmen remain under the command and control of the Governor. The federal Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) does not apply under state active duty status or Title 32 status.
- Title 32 Full-Time National Guard Duty. (Federally funded, but command and control remains with the State Governor through his Adjutant General.) Title 32 activation can only be done by the President or SECDEF with the approval and consent of the state Governor.
USNS Comfort
“The ship, a refurbished oil tanker that was commissioned in 1987, has never before been involved in a response to an infectious disease pandemic,” Captain Amersbach said.
Navy Hospital Ship Reaches New York. But It’s Not Made to Contain Coronavirus. By Helene Cooper and Thomas Gibbons-Neff
March 30, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/us/politics/coronavirus-comfort-hospital-ship-new-york.html
Note: This article will detail the creation and the service of the USNS Comfort. It touches on the problems the ship faced when it arrived in New York. Before the ship could take Covid-19 patients, admission protocols in place would change. This included an official change in its mission status. Specifically, changing from non-COVID-19 patients to patients with Covid-19.
Comments, Questions, Suggestions?
Was this article helpful? Did you learn anything new? I would like to hear your comments on this and any other article on this site. Take a moment, leave a comment or suggestion. Let’s start a conversation today.
