Chair of U.S. House Armed Services: Look in Noem’s funding of Guard border deployment

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Washington Rep. Adam Smith

WASHINGTON (KFGO/KELO Radio) – The Democratic Chair of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee says it is improper for Gov. Kristi Noem to use private funds to send South Dakota National Guardsmen to the Mexican border.

Washington state Congressman Adam Smith said on MSNBC Thursday afternoon that they will be “putting pressure on Secretary of Defense and everyone else to say this should not be happening.”

Noem announced on Twitter Tuesday, she was deploying about 50 South Dakota National Guard soldiers to assist Texas with humanitarian and immigration problems at the U.S. Mexican border.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot declared a state emergency. After media requests, Noem press secretary Ian Fury sent an email.

“The donation was made by Willis and Reba Johnson’s Foundation was made directly to the state of South Dakota,” Fury wrote. “Governor Noem welcomes any such donations to help alleviate the cost to South Dakota taxpayers.”

Last week, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she was sending Iowa State Patrol to Texas and Arizona to help those states with problems at the southern border.