WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin formally approved an extension of the National Guard’s position on the United States Capitol for another two months as potential threats of violence remain, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the department, some 2,300 Guardsmen will continue to provide security in Washington until May 23, at the request of the Capitol Police. Authorities have been struggling in recent days to determine whether and how to comply with the request, as the original March 12 deadline for leaving Washington approached.
There are currently about 5,100 Guard soldiers in Washington, and they are due to leave this weekend. It was not clear whether any of these forces would have to stay an extra day or two while new troops arrived and were trained and installed. The Pentagon said defense officials will work with the Capitol Police to gradually reduce the number of guards needed in the city over time.
The decision to keep Guard members in the city highlights concerns about security at the Capitol, two months after protesters broke into the building in an attack that left five people dead. Law enforcement has maintained an enhanced security posture in response to intelligence suggesting possible threats to Capitol by militia groups.
The request to extend the deployment met with resistance last week as some governors expressed reluctance or flatly refused to commit their troops any longer in the city. There now appear to be enough states willing to provide Guard troops for the mission, said defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
On Tuesday, Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said the decision to maintain a Guard presence would be based on the concerns of the local police, along with the needs of the Capitol Police.
“It is not just a threat assessment, but to assist and support the capabilities that the Capitol Police may not have now and may need to look to improve,” said Kirby, adding that the extension request was based largely on the use of the Guard to make up for gaps in the capabilities of the Capitol Police.
Army leaders also initially questioned whether the Capitol Police had exhausted all other options to fill the need, such as asking other federal law enforcement agencies to provide security. But officials said military leaders thought it was important to find ways to resolve the details.
The threat was linked to the far-right conspiracy theory promoted by QAnon supporters that former President Donald Trump would rise to power again on March 4, the original presidential inauguration day. The day went by without a hitch, but police said threats to buildings and staff remained.
The deployment of the Guard at the Capitol was problematic. At first, members of the Guard were briefly forced to take rest breaks and meals in a nearby cold garage., sparking outrage within the Biden administration. Authorities quickly found new spaces in Congress buildings for service breaks.
In addition, members of the Guard complained about bad food and some said they fell ill. On Monday, Kirby said about 50 Guardsmen were treated for gastrointestinal problems, of the 26,000 who were sent to Washington. He said that six sought outpatient medical treatment, while the rest were treated at emergency rooms set up for the Capitol Hill mission.
Kirby said that General Daniel Hokanson, head of the National Guard Department, has visited troops several times a week and eaten with them to ensure they are getting good food.
The acting Capitol Police Chief, Yogananda Pittman, made the request for members of the Guard to remain, initiating a series of discussions with Pentagon and National Guard leaders.
US military officials said the cost of sending some 26,000 Guard troops to the United States Capitol, from the January 6 riot to this Friday, is almost $ 500 million. No cost estimates for the next two months have been released. Costs include housing, transportation, wages, benefits and other essentials.