Crow Leads Colorado Delegation Urging Air Force to End Uncertainty for Air National Guard Jobs

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger, is leading the bipartisan Colorado congressional delegation in urging Air Force leadership to end uncertainty for Airmen from the Colorado Air National Guard who were left without assignments after Air National Guard space missions were transferred to the U.S. Space Force. 

Of the 393 impacted Airmen, 14 have already moved to other units, separated, or retired. 19 more are projected to transfer to the Space Force. This indecision is causing Colorado to lose qualified military talent, from space operators and security forces to communication specialists and logistics personnel.

“These Airmen raised their hands to serve our nation. Leaving them in limbo doesn’t just hurt readiness, it also does a disservice to our men and women in uniform. The Air Force must give them certainty about their missions,” said Congressman Crow.

In their letter, Crow and Colorado’s entire bipartisan congressional delegation urge Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy E. Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff General Kenneth S. Wilsbach to tell Congress when a remissioning decision for the airmen will be made, when funds to retrain them will be available, and when new equipment will be fielded.

“Future mission uncertainty has led to retention challenges of skilled personnel across a wide variety of backgrounds, such as Space Operators, Security Forces, Communication Specialists, and Logistics personnel,” the bipartisan group wrote. “The Colorado Congressional Delegation stands ready to support the Department of the Air Force in maintaining our tactical advantage and ensuring our Airmen are fully equipped, trained, and ready for future conflict. However, we must ensure that during these necessary transitions, we do not leave our dedicated National Guard members and their families in a state of uncertainty.”

Crow has worked to strengthen Colorado’s Air National Guard and provide Airmen with the resources they need. Last year, he introduced the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act, legislation to prevent the loss of Air National Guard fighter squadrons, including the 140th Wing in Colorado. He also repeatedly opposed Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480), the provision that led to the transfer of Space Missions, Equipment, and Facilities from the Colorado Air National Guard to the Space Force.

Crow serves on both the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:

Dear Mr. Secretary and General,

We are writing today as members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation to request an update regarding the pending Record of Decision (RoD) for new mission sets being allocated to the Air National Guard and to urge its prompt finalization.

Section 514 of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which resulted in the divestment of Air National Guard space missions, has had a profound and immediate impact on our state's military footprint.

Specifically, this divestment affected a total of 393 military billets within the 233rd Space Group – COANG based at the Greeley Air National Guard Station, impacting the livelihoods and careers of 178 full-time and 215 part-time Airmen. Future mission uncertainty has led to retention challenges of skilled personnel across a wide variety of backgrounds, such as Space Operators, Security Forces, Communication Specialists, and Logistics personnel.

Since the decision to divest was announced, we have lost 14 Airmen to other units, separation, or retirement, and have 19 more Airmen projected to transfer to the U.S. Space Force. As we look to the future of our national defense and the critical role filled by Colorado installations and military professionals, it’s never been more important to prioritize a clear, stable path forward for the remaining highly trained servicemembers.

To adequately support our military communities during this transition, we respectfully request urgency in signing the RoD on new mission sets for the Air National Guard. This will allow our state to begin the basing process and provide the clarity essential for our military communities, as well as state and local governments, to properly prepare for these structural shifts.

The Colorado Congressional Delegation stands ready to support the Department of the Air Force in maintaining our tactical advantage and ensuring our Airmen are fully equipped, trained, and ready for future conflict. However, we must ensure that during these necessary transitions, we do not leave our dedicated National Guard members and their families in a state of uncertainty.

We request a formal written response to this inquiry by June 19, 2026. 

Thank you for your continued leadership and your dedication to the men and women of the United States Air Force.

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