Texas Has Problems of Its Own: Why Governor Abbott’s National Guard Deployments Are Misguided

Let me start with this: I normally steer clear of anything that could be perceived as partisan. I believe in advocating for those who serve—regardless of which party happens to be in office. But sometimes, protecting the men and women who wear the uniform requires speaking up, especially when political decisions put them at unnecessary risk. This isn’t about politics; it’s about principle, responsibility, and respect for service.

Texas Has Plenty of Work at Home

Governor Greg Abbott’s recent decision to send Texas National Guard troops across the nation to assist ICE and other federal agencies in “restoring law and order” might sound like strong leadership—but in reality, it’s a misstep that prioritizes optics over obligations.

Texas has enough crises of its own: rural infrastructure is crumbling, the foster care system is stretched thin, and countless veterans, service members, and surviving spouses are fighting uphill battles to access benefits they’ve earned. Add to that the natural disasters that seem to hit us every year—floods, fires, winter storms—and it becomes painfully clear that the Guard’s primary focus should remain here, ready to respond when Texans need them most.

When our citizen-soldiers are sent elsewhere for political purposes, we weaken our own state’s readiness. Who stands watch when the next hurricane barrels into the Gulf or a wildfire tears through the Hill Country?

The Role of the National Guard—Not a Political Chess Piece

The National Guard exists for dual service—state and federal. Under Title 32, they serve the state. Under Title 10, they can be federalized for national emergencies or genuine threats to national security. But these provisions were never meant to be a revolving door for partisan positioning.

Our Guard members are not political props. They are trained to respond to disasters, support humanitarian missions, and defend our communities—not to fill the gaps in immigration enforcement or to score talking points on national news.

Deploying them repeatedly for missions that blur the line between state and federal duty risks burnout, strains families, and chips away at morale. It’s a misuse of trust, time, and taxpayer dollars.

The Human and Financial Toll

Behind every deployment is a human cost. Guardsmen leave behind civilian jobs, small businesses, and families. Spouses shoulder the weight of running households alone while worrying about their loved one’s safety. And while the state may reimburse wages or offer stipends, no amount of money replaces missed birthdays, lost income opportunities, or the emotional toll of constant activation.

Financially, the burden falls squarely on Texas taxpayers. Each large-scale deployment costs millions—funds that could instead be directed toward veteran care, emergency preparedness, or strengthening the very systems the Guard is meant to protect. Transparency around these expenditures has been scarce, and accountability even less so.

Leadership or Leverage?

True leadership isn’t about how far you can send people—it’s about how well you protect them. Governor Abbott’s decision to stretch our Guard thin across the country may play well in headlines, but it leaves the people of Texas less secure when real crises arise.

Using the Guard as leverage is not leadership. It’s short-term politics at the expense of long-term readiness. If we truly want to “support our troops,” then we must ensure that they are used wisely, kept safe, and available when their own communities call for help.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t red or blue—it’s about right and wrong. And sending our National Guard on political errands when Texas itself is in need is simply the wrong call.