Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) penned a letter to President Trump requesting permission to extend the use of Michigan’s National Guard through the end of July. Gov. Whitmer was previously authorized to use her state’s National Guard through June 24. The governor's current request, and this pending extension, goes through Title 32. This federal program signs off on federal pay and benefits, allowing the National Guard to be in use.
“With this assistance, our state has made great strides in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have much more work to respond to and recover from this crisis. To sustain the economic reopening of the state of Michigan and to mitigate the risk associated with potential COVID-19 recurrence, we need to extend the current authorities through July,” Gov. Whitmer wrote. "Accordingly, I request that you authorize the use of Title 32 for ongoing activities through July 31, 2020. The Michigan National Guard remains a crucial part of the State's emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Guard will be vital to our ongoing recovery as well."
INBOX: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sends letter to President Trump asking to authorize the use of the Michigan National Guard through July 31.
— Mikenzie Frost (@MikenzieFrost) May 28, 2020
“I’m requesting an extension...so we can safely reopen our economy while putting the health and well-being of all Michiganders first.” pic.twitter.com/nlNYCHUC5O
Gov. Whitmer ordered one of the strictest stay-at-home mandates, and despite lifting pieces of the order, Michigan still faces logistical difficulties for unemployment benefits, leaving Michiganders unable to utilize the system.