Norton Thanks Ideologically Diverse Coalition for Letter Supporting Giving D.C. Mayor Control Over D.C. National Guard

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked the 28 ideologically diverse national and local groups that sent a letter yesterday to House leadership calling for the House's fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to give the District of Columbia mayor control over the D.C. National Guard. Norton, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (D-MD) filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 NDAA at the Committee on Rules that would give the mayor this authority. The committee determines which amendments will be allowed to be offered on the House floor to the bill. The committee is expected to vote on amendments next week.

"I am grateful to the 28 groups for calling on House leadership to, once again, support giving the D.C. mayor control over the D.C. National Guard," Norton said. "There is no reason D.C. should be the only jurisdiction that does not control its National Guard. In fact, that jeopardizes public safety. If the mayor had controlled the D.C. National Guard on January 6, 2021, the attack on the U.S. Capitol would have been stopped much sooner, likely saving lives."

The House's version of the fiscal year 2022 NDAA gave the D.C. mayor control over the D.C. National Guard. When the House passed that bill, it was the first time in history either chamber had passed a bill giving the mayor this authority. The enacted fiscal year 2022 NDAA did not give the mayor this authority because of Republican opposition in the Senate.

The president controls the D.C. National Guard while the governors of the states and territories control their National Guards.

The letter was led by Protect Democracy and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.

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