State sovereignty is a fundamental principle of Americanism and it should be reclaimed by our executive and legislative branches. The 10th Amendment made this principle unmistakable: powers not explicitly delegated to the federal government were reserved for the states and the people. The Founding Fathers instituted a federal system in which state sovereignty serves as a critical safeguard against the centralization of power, preserving local authority while enabling a unified national framework.
Central to this design is the balance between federal responsibilities — limited to matters such as national defense, foreign policy, and regulating interstate affairs — and the broad, flexible powers retained by the states to govern daily life, local institutions, and internal policy. As articulated in “Federalist Paper No. 45,” it was the opinion of James Madison that,
“The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite.”
The Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) is committed to a three-pronged approach to restore Idaho’s sovereignty in 2026, including working to end state reliance on federal dollars, pushing to pass Defend the Guard legislation, and working to keep Idaho lands in Idaho hands.
1. End Idaho’s reliance on federal dollars. Federal dollars always come with strings attached. Any state’s financial entanglement with federal dollars turns voluntary cooperation into a leverage point which diminishes the state’s ability to act autonomously or innovatively based on local market needs. Ending or reducing reliance on federal funding is therefore a crucial step in restoring Idaho’s state sovereignty. When Idaho generates, manages, and spends its own resources, we retain the freedom to set Idaho policies independently.
2. Pass the Defend the Guard Act. The Defend the Guard Act is one of the easiest ways Idaho may claim its rightful authority over its military branch and operate in a constitutional way as a check on the federal government. It pushes Congress to perform its rightful function and places limitations on potential Executive overreach. This was the Founders’ intent.
Additionally, the recent announcement that the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) will be establishing a training facility at the existing Mountain Home Air Force Base offers a clear example of why state sovereignty matters. The IFF has raised concerns along with thousands more Idahoans about giving a foreign government — specifically an Islamic state — the ability to operate military infrastructure in our backyard. We believe that Idaho should have the final say on whether an international security agreement — which affects Idaho land, population, and safety — should proceed within our borders.
3. Put Idaho in control of its own lands. Control over state lands is an essential element of retaining state sovereignty. Approximately 60% of Idaho is owned by the federal government. This limits state control over land usage, natural resources, economic development, and decisions affecting Idahoans. By reclaiming authority over our state lands, we can exercise the self-governance intended in the Constitution.
To summarize, the IFF has laid out three easy steps to help restore state sovereignty in Idaho. We call upon the Legislature and the governor to end our reliance on federal funding, defend the Idaho National Guard, and put Idaho lands under Idaho control.
