- The National Guard said Wednesday it is unable to accept donations.
- The statement was made after some were moved to donate after seeing photos of National Guard members sleeping on the floor of the United States Capitol.
- The National Guard assured the public that its members have adequate dormitories.
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Members of the United States National Guard were seen on Wednesday sleeping on the floor of the United States Capitol, but that does not mean that they do not have adequate sleeping quarters or any other form of public assistance.
“While we appreciate the many offers and the people who care about our soldiers and airmen, we are not logistically able to accept donations of any kind,” the National Guard said in a statement.
Thousands of members of the National Guard are currently in Washington, DC, to prevent a repeat of the January 6 uprising and any outbreaks of violence during the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
In response to the news about soldiers lying on the Capitol floor, some were moved to act, thinking that a cold, hard floor would be their only rest.
—Brian Bartlett (@BrianBartlett) January 13, 2021
Brian Bartlett, a Republican communications strategist, raised more than $ 3,000 on GoFundMe to buy sleeping pillows “so they can have a decent rest while protecting our democracy!”
But the National Guard soon clarified: “know that our National Guards have adequate accommodation for when they are off; the photos circulating are of them in service, in a designated rest area between shifts.”
In an update, Bartlett told supporters that he would return the pillows he bought “and ask GoFundMe to refund all donations”.
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