Sue McNeil

Investigating the Benefits and Drawbacks of Realigning the National Guard Under the Department of Homeland Security Sue McNeil

Whereas the role of the federal military is clearly defined and limited in the spectrum of domestic operations, the National Guard, as a state or federal asset depending on duty status designation, assumes a more dynamic, multi-spectrum support role. This multi-spectrum role sometimes puts the Guard at the center of a contentious command power struggle between the states and federal government; a power struggle that has led to a growing debate over the role of the National Guard during domestic operations, with some questioning whether the Guard is better aligned to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), rather than the states, for domestic operational requirements. This monograph, by Dr. Ryan Burke and Dr. Sue McNeil, attempts to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of a hypothetical realignment of the National Guard to the DHS. Drawing from interviews with a range of subject matter experts primarily from the National Guard and the DHS, Burke and McNeil first address the pros and cons of such...