The Nation - News from May 3, 1989

Defense Secretary Dick Cheney has approved plans of another 36 states or territories to step up use of their National Guard units in fighting drug trafficking, the Pentagon said. The additional approvals bring to 48 the number of such plans now in place. The action makes the states eligible for extra federal funds from a congressional appropriation of $40 million approved last year to finance such Guard operations. Cheney announced the first approvals March 30, concentrating then on 12 high-priority border states, including California. Those 12 states together were authorized to use $11.8 million.