NATIONAL GUARD TO SUPPORT AVIATION SECURITY
September 28, 2001

Responding to the president’s request that governors call up their state National Guard to augment airport security, the Department of Defense has begun interagency coordination with the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“We support the president’s effort to maintain America’s confidence in the aviation industry,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Craig W. Duehring. “We will be working closely with the FAA, the National Guard Bureau, and the states to expedite this effort to achieve the president’s goals.”

The FAA has asked DoD to coordinate the use of approximately 5,000 National Guard members at 422 commercial airports nationwide over the next four to six months. This will allow the federal government the time needed to establish a new federal law enforcement capability responsible for aviation security nationwide.

National Guard members, working for their governors, will augment and assist local airport security authorities in varied capacities to include screening and checkpoint security.