May 28, 2020
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump:
On behalf of the nation’s governors, we write in support of the numerous requests to extend the use of Title 32 for our National Guard response to and recovery from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Given the nature of the COVID-19 crisis, the virus has affected each state and territory in a different way, and at different times. As states and territories move toward recovery and reopening, our National Guard will be critical in supporting operations such as testing, distribution of personal protective equipment, supply and food chain support, augmenting staff at nursing homes, and supporting warehouse operations.
Likewise, our National Guard are perfectly positioned to support the federally defined core state preparedness responsibilities outlined in your Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.
Finally, with natural disaster season on the horizon, we believe the consistency of Title 32 specifically for COVID-19 related missions will help to provide states and territories with flexibility for easier transitions to supporting local disaster-related crises.
We appreciate your consideration of this important issue and ask you to continue to extend the use of Title 32 as part of COVID-19 recovery and reopening efforts, as necessary.
Sincerely,
Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland; Chair, National Governors Association
Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York; Vice Chair, National Governors Association
Governor Kay Ivey, Alabama
Governor Mike Dunleavy, Alaska
Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona
Governor Gavin Newsom, California
Governor Jared Polis, Colorado
Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut
Governor John Carney, Delaware
Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Guam
Governor David Ige, Hawai’i
Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois
Governor Eric Holcomb, Indiana
Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa
Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas
Governor John Bel Edwards, Louisiana
Governor Janet Mills, Maine
Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan
Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota
Governor Mike Parson, Missouri
Governor Steve Bullock, Montana
Governor Steve Sisolak, Nevada
Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico
Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolina
Governor Doug Burgum, North Dakota
Governor Ralph Torres, Northern Mariana Islands
Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio
Governor Kate Brown, Oregon
Governor Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania
Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, Puerto Rico
Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island
Governor Henry McMaster, South Carolina
Governor Kristi Noem, South Dakota
Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee
Governor Gary Herbert, Utah
Governor Phil Scott, Vermont
Governor Ralph Northam, Virginia
Governor Jay Inslee, Washington
Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin
Governor Mark Gordon, Wyoming
Cc: Secretary Mark Esper, Department of Defense
Administrator Pete Gaynor, Federal Emergency Management Agency
