SALT LAKE CITY, UT - On July 11, 2024, Governor Tim Walz co-chaired the Council of Governors’ 29th plenary meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The meeting focused on progress made on issues of homeland security, cybersecurity, emergency management and disaster response, issues impacting the Air and Army National Guard, and strategic defense budget planning.

“It was an honor to convene a bipartisan Council of Governors meeting today and discuss how we can work together to advance our shared goal of ensuring the safety and security of each of our states,” said Governor Walz. “By strengthening partnerships across states and with the federal government, we can better tackle the most pressing issues facing our country: from emergency management and disaster response to cybersecurity.”

The President’s bipartisan Council of Governors was established by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 as a forum for governors to exchange views, information, or advice with the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters of national security, homeland defense, and disaster response and recovery. Governor Walz, a 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard, was appointed by the President in 2021 to lead the council along with co-chair Vermont Governor Phil Scott. Walz was first appointed to the council in 2019.

The 29th plenary meeting was attended by leaders and senior officials across the federal government, including: the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the Executive Office of the President.