Wes Moore And The National Guard

I keep hearing this question: “Berney, can the governor of Maryland tell the President “No” if he wants the National Guard?” Wes Moore sure is pushing that story.
Well… the short answer is yes and no.
Here’s how it works. Most of the time, the National Guard belongs to the governor. That’s why you see them during hurricanes, floods, or standing around in reflective vests at BWI Airport
So if the President just asks Governor Wes Moore for the Guard — maybe to send them to D.C. — Wes can cross his arms, squint into the sun, and say, “Nope, sorry Mr. President, I’m too busy raising taxes and renaming highways.”
But — and this is important — the President can also say, “Cute story, Wes, but I’m in charge now.” That’s called federalizing the Guard. The minute that happens, those troops stop taking orders from Annapolis and start taking them from the Pentagon. At that point, the governor has about as much say as the rest of us