The Biden Administration is planning to keep National Guard troops in Washington, DC through the end of 2021. The National Security Council is also considering deploying additional active duty and reserve troops.
7,000 National Guard troops have been authorized to be deployed in our nation’s capital until March 12, costing nearly half a billion dollars, as reported by WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C.
This comes despite concerns from the National Guard that they cannot sustain current levels of occupation, even as Democrats clamor for a permanent militarized Capitol.
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1360654279686635523?s=21
Biden’s National Security Council is asking the Department of Defense to work with Capitol Police on plans for additional support following the March 12 deadline, according to an internal email. Agencies have a scheduled meeting to discuss these plans on February 17, per WTTG:
“If it’s not possible to sustain at the current level with NG personnel, we need to establish the number of NG personnel (DCNG and out-of-state) we can sustain for an extended period – at least through Fall 2021 – and understand additional options for providing DoD support, to include use of reserve personnel, as well as active component,” wrote Robert Salesses, who began Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security on January 20, 2021.
The National Guard said they are “conducting prudent planning for the eventual end of the security mission and the return of its Soldiers and Airmen to their home stations,” in a statement given to Fox 5.
Stars and Stripes reported that the National Guard plans to keep an indefinite deployment of 5,000 National Guard troops in DC after March 12.
“Pentagon officials estimate the Guard mission in Washington through March 15,” they reported, “supporting federal agencies protecting the Capitol building will cost $483 million, John Kirby told reporters.”
