The National Guard’s financial support comes from a combination of federal and state resources. Typically, the federal government covers the costs associated with training, equipment, and deployments on federal missions, such as those related to natural disasters or overseas operations. States, in turn, are responsible for funding the day-to-day operational costs, including personnel salaries and maintenance of armories and facilities when the Guard is not federally mobilized.
This dual funding structure reflects the Guard’s unique role as both a state militia and a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces. It ensures the availability of a readily deployable force to respond to both state-level emergencies, like floods and civil unrest, and national-level contingencies, safeguarding communities and the nation as a whole. The historical roots of this arrangement lie in the colonial militias, evolving over centuries to the present-day system, which enables governors to utilize the Guard for state needs while also allowing the federal government to call upon it for national defense and other federal missions.
