California National Guard briefs subcommittee on staffing, facilities and cybersecurity requests; several items held for later review

Adjutant General Matt Beavers summarized the California Military Department—217s workforce, mission and a set of budget proposals including requests for legal staffing, facilities repairs and cybersecurity reimbursement authority.

Beavers described the department as responsible for roughly 18,000 service members across the Army and Air National Guard, the California State Guard and youth and community programs such as STARBASE. He highlighted recent emergency deployments and the department—217s internal budget discipline work, and told senators the department had reduced costs and eliminated unneeded positions in prior reviews.

Staff Judge Advocate staffing (item 10). The department requested $697,000 general fund and three positions to strengthen legal, contracting and claims oversight at headquarters; Beavers said the positions would improve procurement and handling of SCIF claims and would reduce risk and ultimately save money. Senators asked whether federal judge advocates could absorb the work; Beavers explained the specialized state legal work requires attorneys admitted to the California bar and that federally assigned attorneys often lack the state‑law and procurement experience needed for these functions. The committee held the item open for further review.

Deferred maintenance and armory HVAC (item 11). The department requested $4.8 million general fund to replace HVAC systems at armories in Azusa, Stockton (Okinawa?) and Fresno and included provisional language for additional funding if federal matches are not secured. Beavers said federal cost‑share on such projects can be substantial (25% to 75% depending on the facility), making the state funding request a high‑value match. Senators discussed federal budget timing for military construction funds; the department said they expected clarity later in the spring and that the federal process remains competitive.

Consolidated headquarters staffing (item 12). The department requested two positions and related funds to manage sophisticated facility systems at the Rancho Cordova headquarters, including maintaining zero net energy and LEED standards for the new building. The subcommittee held this item open.

Los Alamitos readiness center planning (item 13). The department sought $750,000 from the Armory Fund for advanced planning to compete for future federal military construction dollars for a readiness center; Beavers said early planning is essential to be competitive and that California competes with other states for limited federal MILCON resources. The department indicated the Armory Fund can support the request.

STARBASE classroom (item 14). The department requested $419,000 general fund for working drawings to expand STARBASE classroom capacity for additional students. LAO recommended rejection of the working drawings request because of concerns about out‑year construction costs and expansion of services before construction funding is secured; the subcommittee held the item open.

Cybersecurity reimbursement increase (item 15). The department requested an $8.8 million increase in reimbursement authority to support cybersecurity work performed for the State Operations Center, the Cybersecurity Integration Center and other agencies. Beavers said California National Guard personnel perform penetration testing and vulnerability assessments and that the reimbursement authority must match the volume of interagency work. The Department of Finance confirmed the item increases armory fund/reimbursement authority to the level needed for anticipated work.

Ending

Most military department items were left open for further review and coordination with Finance and LAO; the department pledged to return with additional detail and, where applicable, to pursue federal matches.