ARLINGTON, Va. – Written statement by Maj. Gen. William J. Edwards, director, Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs, National Guard Bureau, as prepared before the House Committee on Oversight Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs hearing titled “The National Guard State Partnership Program: Strengthening U.S. Security, One Partnership at a Time,” June 25, 2025.
Good afternoon. Chairman Timmons, Ranking Member Subramanyam, distinguished members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, I want to thank you and the committee for allowing me to speak on behalf of the National Guard Bureau and in support of the State Partnership Program. I’m honored to sit alongside the DAS-D Mr. Christopher Mamaux and Major General Stilwell for this hearing.
The State Partnership Program embodies a cost effective and collaborative approach to Peace Through Strength—strengthening security capabilities of our partners and readiness for our units. Through face-to-face engagements and cooperative training, the State Partnership Program cultivates essential relationships with partner nations to improve interoperability and it facilitates a shared responsibility to shoulder the regional security burdens of our current global environment.
Growth and Management of the Program
The State Partnership Program is an OSD program, managed by the National Guard Bureau, and executed by the states in support of the regional Combatant Commands and U.S. Embassies in our partner nations. The National Guard manages the program and resourcing, but the states lead the partnerships and are directly responsible for the success of those relationships. So, it is fitting to have The Adjutant General of South Carolina here to showcase the relationships one of our states is building with its partners.
In 2025, the total operating budget for the State Partnership Program is approximately $55 million. This budget is enabling the execution of more than one thousand partner engagements across all aspects of international civil-military affairs and the addition of eight new partner nations. The National Guard Bureau uses a Resource Allocation Model to allocate funding to the states based on their individual partner nations. This Resource Allocation Model considers the priorities communicated in National Defense Strategy and the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance.
An important starting point for our discussion is the program's growth. What began in 1993 with 13 nations has grown to 115 countries across every Geographic Combatant Command. There is an appetite for continued program expansion from many potential partner nations, National Guard States and territories, OSD, and the Geographical Combatant Commands.
Multiple states submitted applications for the opportunity to be paired with a nation in a competitive process. The state and partner nation pairings process includes a rigorous strategic and comparative analysis, based on the states’ capabilities. With commensurate resourcing, the National Guard has the capacity to continue to grow the program in support of the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance.
As the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Stephen Nordhaus, testified earlier this month, “we cannot overstate the value of these mutually beneficial, security cooperation relationships—built on trust and shared values” He continued to say, “For less than one percent of the U.S. security cooperation budget, the SPP strengthens partner capacity, addresses security challenges, and enhances global stability.”
I’m happy to report that since the July 2022 Government Accountability Office report, we have made great strides in the timely reporting of our State Partnership Program activities in SOCIUM, the Security Cooperation Program of Record. Our organization also worked with Defense Security Cooperation University to revamp the training course that we provide to State Partnership Program practitioners in the states and in the International Affairs Division. This course provides clear guidance related to cradle to grave reporting requirements and the process to pair Section 341 with appropriate authorities.
Conclusion
The State Partnership Program is a unique tool in the security cooperation enterprise. It is the only security cooperation program that delivers sustained, enduring relationships with our partners that our competitors are unable to match. Many of our Adjutants General have engaged with their partner nations Chiefs of Defense throughout their careers.
I want to express my appreciation to Congress for their enthusiastic support of this program. It is an honor to lead a program that is so impactful in growing enduring security relationships on behalf of our nation. I am thankful for the 54 Adjutants General and their Soldiers and Airmen who work tirelessly to increase regional security across the world. It is my pleasure to sit before this committee and I welcome your questions.