“Securing our borders is a top priority of our nation, and I’m proud of Wisconsin’s National Guard for playing a valued role,” Johnson said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate Governor Evers doesn’t agree, and has decided to withdraw them from their important mission.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in a statement that Evers’ decision is “yet another example of how our governor is catering to his Dane County liberal base and refusing to do what’s best for our state and in this case, the entire nation.”

Vos said the operation is federally funded and doesn’t save any state taxpayer dollars.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a Monday tweet that the governor “is playing politics instead of working to keep Wisconsin safe.”

A Republican congressman from Illinois who said he serves in the Wisconsin National Guard said that the border mission is honorable and asked Evers to reconsider the withdrawal.