Feds restore approval for Wisconsin Guard tree project

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin National Guard mission to clean up thousands of downed trees in northwestern Wisconsin has had its federal funding restored.

The National Guard Bureau last month approved federal training dollars to cover the 724th Engineer Battalion’s work in Burnett and Douglas counties. But the U.S. Department of Defense revoked the approval Thursday. It said training dollars couldn’t be used for disaster response.

Gov. Scott Walker called the battalion to active duty himself Friday. That allowed the work to continue using state money.

But federal funding was restored as of Saturday. National Guard Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar says the approximately 64 soldiers are on annual training orders, a federal designation that puts them back in a federal pay status.

July storms toppled trees across six northwestern Wisconsin counties.