REPORT: Griffo, Senate Republicans call for the nationalization of National Guard members in New York’s prisons
ALBANY, NY- New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-C-Rome) and members of the Senate Republican Conference announced today that they have sent a letter to President Donald Trump and General Steven S. Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, requesting federal activation under Title 10 of the New York State National Guard troops who have been deployed to maintain order in prisons.
Doing so would guarantee the Guard members called to serve in New York prisons will be protected with the same benefits and legal protections as active military members and ensure comprehensive health coverage, including receiving a disability rating to authorize continuing care through the VA, according to Griffo's office.
Currently, they are serving under state orders and are not eligible for certain federal benefits. “We respectfully request you as Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard, federally activate the National Guard members currently serving in the State’s correctional facilities, under Title 10 of the United States Code,” the letter reads, in part.
“In activating the National Guard under Title 10, the Guard personnel will be entitled to the same pay, benefits and legal protections as active military members. The benefits under Title 10 include comprehensive healthcare coverage, which we believe is imperative given the dire conditions many of the National Guard are currently serving in,” the letter reads.
Correction officers began striking at dozens of prisons across the state the week of February 17.
Governor Hochul subsequently deployed more than 6,500 New York Guard members into the prisons to help maintain order for an indefinite period of time. Reports indicate the Guard members are working in unsafe, unsanitary conditions.
A full copy of the letter is available below:
"Dear President Trump,
As we are sure you are aware, New York State’s correctional facilities are currently in a crisis thanks to reckless policies passed by Democrats in the State Legislature and signed into law by former Governor Andrew Cuomo. These policies have resulted in unreasonably dangerous working conditions for corrections officers across the State, with record breaking numbers of assaults on prison staff in 2023 and 2024.
The extremely dangerous working conditions have led to corrections officers going on strike in 38 of the State’s 42 prisons. In response, Governor Hochul has deployed nearly 6,500 of the State’s National Guard on indefinite orders, with no clear resolution in sight, to state prisons to maintain order.
Placing members of the national guard in state prisons during a time of record assaults on staff in state prisons, is a recipe for disaster. We respectfully request you, as Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard, to federally activate the National Guard members currently serving in the State’s correctional facilities, under Title 10 of the United States Code.
In activating the National Guard under Title 10, the Guard personnel will be entitled to the same pay, benefits and legal protections as active military members. The benefits under Title 10 include comprehensive healthcare coverage, which we believe is imperative given the dire conditions many of the National Guard are currently serving in.
This would allow Guard personnel to have any injuries sustained in correctional facilities rated on the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) thereby securing eligibility for treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs rather than receiving less than adequate benefits through NYS Department of Labor or Workers Compensation.
Finally, we encourage your administration to continue to monitor the situation and engage with Governor Hochul when you deem it necessary. Under Section 28 of the New York State Executive Law, whenever the Governor finds that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State, she must make an appropriate request for federal assistance available under federal law.
We thank you for your time and consideration on this urgent matter."
New York State Senator Joseph Griffo image.
