[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz announced today that President Joe Biden has reappointed him to serve as co-chair of the bipartisan Council of Governors with Vermont Governor Phil Scott. The council, which consists of 10 governors of both parties, is responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions.

“I am honored to be reappointed as co-chair to lead this bipartisan group of governors . We will continue to work with the federal government to advance our homeland security and support our soldiers at home and abroad,”said Governor Walz. “We have made significant progress convening around issues related to cybersecurity, disaster response, and our National Guard, and I look forward to continuing to partner on matters related to critical infrastructure and civil support.”

Governor Walz served nearly 25 years in the Army National Guard. Achieving the rank of Command Sergeant Major, he was the highest-ranking enlisted service member ever to serve in Congress. He has served on the council since taking office in January of 2019.

“It has been an honor to serve as co-chair with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and I look forward to leading the council with Vermont Governor Phil Scott and working together to strengthen our state and federal partnerships,” continued Governor Walz.

The next Council of Governors meeting is scheduled for February of 2023, in conjunction with the National Governors Association Summer Meeting.

About the President’s Council of Governors

The bipartisan Council of Governors serves as the lead forum to strengthen partnerships between the Federal government and State governments to better protect our nation from threats to our homeland security and all types of hazards. The council focuses on matters of homeland security; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of state and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest, including those involving the National Guard. Federal-state cooperation is critical to protecting communities given the evolving challenges and threats facing our country, which range from extreme weather to domestic and international terrorism to a global pandemic. The Council of Governors will closely coordinate with the Biden-Harris Administration to bolster preparedness, resilience, and response on behalf of all Americans in times of need.

The council also includes leaders across the Federal government: the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, the Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs, the Commander of U.S. Northern Command, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.