Pentagon approves federal deployment of up to 17,500 Guard troops for oil spill

Pentagon OKs up to 17,500 Guardsmen for oil spill

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has approved the federal mobilization of up to 17,500 National Guard troops to help various states with the oil spill.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has granted requests to send troops of up to 6,000 by Louisiana, 3,000 by Alabama, 2,500 by Florida and 6,000 by Mississippi.

The arrangement means that the federal government will pay for the troops but that the states will control how they are used. State governments could call up additional Guard troops on their own.