Libertarian Party of WV Criticizes Governor’s Deployment of WV National Guard to Washington, D.C.
(Charleston, WV) – August 17, 2025 – The Libertarian Party of West Virginia (LPWV) strongly criticizes Governor Morrissey’s recent decision to deploy West Virginia National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. While this action may have some popularity within the party that controls WV politics, it flies in the face of the proper constitutional role of our Guard.
“Our National Guard exists to protect West Virginia, not to be dispatched at the whim of federal politicians for operations outside our state,” said LPWV Chairman Taylor Richmond. “When our citizens need assistance with floods, storms, or emergencies, those soldiers should be here and not serving as pawns in federal power struggles.”
This decision underscores the urgent need for the Defend the Guard movement, which seeks to prohibit the deployment of state National Guard units into active combat or federal service without a formal declaration of war by Congress. The Founders vested the power to declare war solely with Congress, not the President, and not state governors acting under federal pressure.
“Sending our Guard to Washington for political theater erodes both state sovereignty and individual liberty,” added Dustin Blankenship, LPWV spokesperson. “West Virginians should demand that their representatives support Defend the Guard legislation and put an end to this misuse of our citizen soldiers.”
The LPWV reaffirms its commitment to defending civil liberties, limiting government overreach, and ensuring that West Virginia’s sons and daughters are not deployed unless Congress follows the Constitution and declares war.
For Media Inquiries Contact:
Dustin S. Blankenship, JD
Director of Outreach, Libertarian Party of West Virginia Email: dustinblankenship@lpwv.org
www.lpwv.org