Pentagon May Try to Eliminate Governors’ Power Over Guard

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is considering legislation to enable it to send National Guard troops to Central America for exercises without a governor’s permission, a Pentagon official said Friday.

The Pentagon’s chief of manpower and reserve affairs, James Webb, said that “a number of alternatives are being explored” to determine whether a governor’s authority over National Guard troops can be eliminated.

“The question is whether a governor should make foreign policy,” Webb said.

Weinberger to Decide

He said Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger would make a decision on the matter within a week or so.

The move is in response to a recent refusal by Maine Gov. Joseph E. Brennan, a Democrat, to permit National Guard troops to take part in exercises in Honduras. Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts, another Democrat, has threatened a similar refusal.

Eight state governors are on record as opposing at least some National Guard assignments in Central America.

California Gov. George Deukmejian has defended the use of California National Guardsmen as military police on a road-building project in Honduras “as part of their training.” His chief of staff, Steven A. Merksamer, said two additional reasons for deploying the National Guard to an international hot spot were “to support the President” and to provide economic assistance to a Third World ally.

About 10,000 National Guard soldiers participated in exercises in Honduras last year and about 6,000 are scheduled to go to the Central American country this year. The Pentagon said the maneuvers are essential for their training.

Although state governments have focused on troop exercises in Honduras, Webb said the exercises involve all overseas assignments for National Guard soldiers and airmen. He said they have participated in maneuvers in 40 countries.

The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are under state control during peacetime in accordance with a constitutional guarantee of the right of the states to have their own militias. Governors can mobilize these units in the event of emergencies such as a natural disaster.

Call for Active Duty

There are about 440,000 men and women in the Army National Guard and about 110,000 in the Air National Guard.

When National Guard units are called to take part in exercises outside the country, they are considered to be on active duty. Under the law, they may not be called to active duty without the consent of the governor.

Webb said the Pentagon did not think a constitutional issue was involved and that its objections focused on laws passed by Congress early in the century that give governors veto power over the use of National Guard troops by the federal government.