Oregon Republican, Rep. Alek Skarlatos, pulled his support from a Democrat-led bill limiting National Guard deployments although he was previously listed as a sponsor of the bill.
According to Oregon Capital Chronicle, Skarlatos described the bill as toothless and more political messaging than policy.
House Bill 4091 would block the Oregon National Guard from aiding in federal law enforcement except for “indirect support or surveillance duties that are part of a border security operation.” Oregon National Guard members would not be called into active service if it would leave the guard incapable of responding to Oregon emergencies, like wildfires or an act of terrorism. Another state’s National Guard would not be allowed to enter Oregon without the governor’s consent, if they were not mobilized under the president’s existing authority.
Skarlatos said he’d have stayed on if it had real enforcement power.
The bill still advances with only Democratic backing as legal and constitutional questions loom.
The above summarizes the Feb. 5, 2026 Oregon Capital Chronicle article “Oregon Republican pulls support from bill restricting National Guard deployment” by Shaanth Nanguneri.
Photo by Sgt. Armondo Borboa, 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs: Soldiers from Oregon Army National Guard’s Bravo Company 2-162 Infantry Battalion, board a CH-47 Chinook in Corvallis, Ore., May 17, 2013. Image in the public domain.