Maloney, Norton, Brown File Amendment to Give D.C. Mayor Control Over D.C. National Guard

Press Release

Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (D-MD) today announced that they filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) at the Committee on Rules that would give the District of Columbia mayor control over the D.C. National Guard. 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.

"We have an opportunity in this year's annual defense bill to address the security challenges we encountered on January 6, 2021," said Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney. "I am proud to join Congresswoman Norton on this critical amendment to help protect the safety and security of D.C. residents."

"On January 6, 2021, as our democracy was under attack, D.C.'s mayor was unable to call out the D.C. National Guard, costing hours and potentially costing lives," Norton said. "I have long introduced a bill to give D.C.'s mayor the same authority over the D.C. National Guard that governors of states and territories have over their National Guards. It is critically important for D.C. that this amendment be included in the fiscal year 2023 NDAA, and I thank Representative Brown and Chairwoman Maloney for supporting this effort."

"The residents of D.C. deserve the same protections and accountability from their leaders as every other American. The current command structure for the D.C. Guard is failing D.C. and our nation. We saw these failures on full display in the over-militarized response to Black Lives Matter protests and the delayed response to the January 6th insurrection," said Congressman Anthony G. Brown. "I want to thank Congresswoman Norton for her tireless advocacy on behalf of the District of Columbia. Last year, the House voted overwhelmingly for this common-sense provision. I strongly urge passage of this amendment."

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 version of the fiscal year 2022 NDAA did not give the mayor this authority because of Republican opposition.

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

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