(WWJ) Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will have voice in major matters of national security as she joins President Joe Biden's Council of Governors.
President Biden on Thursday appointed Whitmer to a two-year term in the bipartisan group, which was first established by President Barack Obama in 2010 by executive order.
The Council, focused on strengthening federal and state collaboration, addresses matters of homeland defense, the National Guard, disaster response, and other safety and security issues. It's intended to serve as a mechanism for governors and key federal officials to address matters pertaining to the National Guard, homeland defense and defense support to civil authorities.
"I am honored that President Biden appointed me to the Council of Governors," said Whitmer, in a statement. "Since I took office in 2018, I have guided Michigan through multiple disaster response efforts, including extreme polar weather and energy shortages, a 500-year flood, and the COVID-19 pandemic. I welcome the opportunity to work across the aisle to put our nation's security first and make a difference in the lives of Americans."
The Council consists of 10 governors appointed by the President – five from each party – with two governors serving as co-chairs. The Executive Order specifically names a number of federal participants in the Council, including the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, the President's Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor, the Commander of U.S. Northern Command and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, among others.
