Since 2021, thousands of National Guard soldiers have been pulled from their families, jobs, and schools to serve on the Texas border under Operation Lone Star (OLS).

They’ve stood watch for months — even years — in harsh conditions, away from loved ones, doing the work of a federal mission. Yet, because OLS is classified as a state mission, these soldiers are denied the federal benefits they have earned:

No retirement points.
No GI Bill credit.
No federal disability protections if they get hurt.
No recognition equal to Active Duty or federalized Guardsmen.
This is wrong. Soldiers who sacrifice for our country deserve more than a thank-you and a state ribbon.

There is a solution: when the federal government reimburses states for large missions (like hurricanes), those missions can be recognized federally. That means the soldiers’ service — and their benefits — are honored.

We demand:

Convert Operation Lone Star into a federal mission.
Retroactively grant retirement points, GI Bill credit, federal disability protections, and federal recognition to every Guardsman who served on OLS.
These men and women answered the call. They left their families, their jobs, and their lives to protect our border. Now it’s time for our nation to stand up for them.

Honor their service. Give them the benefits they’ve earned.