Inslee Requests National Guard Extension from Trump

Governor Jay Inslee sent a letter Friday to the Trump administration requesting an extension of the Washington National Guard's COVID-19 mission.

The request is for federal authority and funding through March 31st of 2021. The current federal funding authorization runs through December 31st.

Inslee said, "As anticipated, Washington State is experiencing a winter surge in positive COVID-19 cases. At the same time, our state is making preparations to efficiently distribute the highly anticipated vaccines. We continue to rely on essential help from the Washington National Guard to ensure an effective response across our state, especially during this critical time."

Currently, the Washington National Guard is helping to support foodbanks, operate test sites, and build test kits.