On Wednesday the leader of the Vermont National Guard said he has no clear indication when airmen from Vermont will return from a federal mission to support the war in Iran. More than two dozen veterans, retired officers and guard family members are calling for the state to pass a bill creating safeguards for federal deployments.
In 2025, the Vermont Defend the Guard Act was introduced in the Vermont House. It would prohibit deployment of the Vermont Guard to overseas combat without congressional authorization.
The letter to Gov. Phil Scott and legislators expresses concern about the eight-month deployment of the Vermont Guard and says “...many Vermonters were troubled that Congress did not publicly debate or vote on these military operations before Guard members were placed in harm's way.”
The signors urge that the Vermont bill be passed “... to uphold the constitutional principles that protect both our democracy and the Vermont National Guard members. The bill has been in the Government Operations and Military Affairs committee since February 2025.
