Trump commits to cover costs of California National Guard COVID-19 response — for now

The Trump administration committed on Friday to cover all of the costs of National Guard troops responding to the coronavirus pandemic in California, Arizona and Connecticut through September, expanding on a short list of states that will not have to share the cost burden — at least for now.

Earlier in the week, that list only included Texas and Florida, two states that are critical to President Donald Trump’s reelection prospects.

While Texas and Florida will not have to pay any portion of the National Guard costs through the end of the year, California’s exemption was only extended through September 30.

“To maximize assistance to the governor of the state of California to facilitate federal support with respect to the use of National Guard units under state control, I am directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security to fund an additional 25% of the emergency assistance activities associated with preventing, mitigating, and responding to the threat to public health and safety posed by the virus that this state undertakes using its National Guard forces,” a memorandum from the White House read.

The president may choose to extend the assistance next month, and may still add additional states.

White House officials said earlier this week that Texas and Florida had been chosen because their governors had made direct pleas for the extension.

California is among the states worst-affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and has recorded the highest number of cases nationwide.

Citizen soldiers and airmen in the California National Guard have been called up to support the state’s response to pandemic in a number of ways, such as staffing COVID-19 testing sites, delivering assistance to people in need, and providing medical support.

This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 2:34 PM.