President Trump Re-appoints Governor Whitmer to Council of Governors

Contact: press@michigan.gov

President Trump Re-appoints Governor Whitmer to Council of Governors

Governor Whitmer becomes longest serving governor on the council

LANSING, Mich.—Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been selected by President Donald Trump to continue serving as one of 10 governors on the Council of Governors. This bipartisan group brings together governors from across the country to work with federal agencies on critical issues such as homeland security, National Guard operations, disaster response, and other security and safety measures. 

“I am honored to be re-appointed to the bipartisan Council of Governors,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office, I've worked with Republican and Democratic colleagues across the country to address challenges that we all have faced including rebuilding communities after historic flooding and advancing legislation to make our kids safer in schools. I look forward to serving on the council once again, continuing my work as co-chair of a work group focused on National Guard recruitment and retention, as we focus on solving problems that make a real difference in people’s lives and protecting our national security with investments in bases like Selfridge.” 

Michigan Leads on National Security and Emergency Response 

• Deployed the Michigan National Guard to support security efforts at the southwest border. 

• Worked with Republican and Democratic presidents to secure disaster relief funding for Michigan families, farmers, and businesses. 

• Committed $100 million to upgrade critical infrastructure at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to build Michigan’s defense industry and attract new flying missions and aircraft. 

• Invested over $1.6 billion across multiple balanced, bipartisan state budgets to help hire, train, and retain local police, firefighters, and EMTs. 

• Secured funding to hire more school resource officers in school districts across the state to keep students safe while they’re in the classroom. 

• Funded risk assessments and critical incidence mapping to help schools protect students and create safety plans in the event of an emergency. 

About the Council of Governors 

The Council of Governors was established by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 and formally created by Executive Order 13528 in 2010. It serves as a key forum for governors and federal officials to enhance collaboration on disaster response, National Guard operations, and defense support to civil authorities. 

The Council consists of 10 governors appointed by the President—five from each party—with two governors serving as co-chairs. The governors work alongside federal participants in the Council, including the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, the President’s Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor, the Commander of the U.S. Northern Command, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, among others.

Governor Whitmer was first appointed to the Council in 2021 by President Joe Biden and reappointed in 2023. Under President Trump’s leadership, she has been selected as one of two governors to remain on the Council, now becoming the longest-serving governor on the Council.

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