15,000 guard troops to leave D.C.
10,600 to remain; brief move to Capitol garage raises outcry
WASHINGTON — After President Joe Biden’s inauguration went off with only a handful of minor arrests and incidents, more than 15,000 National Guard members are preparing to leave Washington, D.C., and head home.
The National Guard Bureau said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 guard troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the guard is helping states with coordination and logistics so the troops can get home.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post and Politico reported that hundreds of guard troops were ordered out of areas of the Capitol they had been us- ing for rest breaks and were relocated to a nearby parking garage Thursday. Photos of the troops in the garage drew outrage from lawmakers.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Iraq War veteran, tweeted: “Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. I’ll keep checking to make sure they are.”
After midnight Thursday, Duckworth tweeted an update: “Troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed.” Politico reported that they were allowed back into the Capitol.
Thousands of guard troops from across the country poured into D.C. by the planeload and busload late last week in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting in the nation’s capital. Military air- craft crowded the runways at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying guard members into the region in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Guard forces were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and the perimeter of central D.C., which was largely locked down for several days leading up to Wednesday’s inaugural ceremony.
The U.S. Secret Service announced that the special security event for the inauguration officially ended at noon Thursday.
The guard said it may take several days to make all of the arrangements to return the 15,000 troops home, but it should be complete in five to 10 days. Guard members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through covid-19 screening.
Some local law enforcement agencies have asked for continued assistance from the guard, so roughly 7,000 troops are expected to stay in the region through the end of the month.