Thousands of National Guard troops that had been sent to Washington, D.C. to fortify the Capitol during President Biden’s inauguration were forced to spend their rest periods inside a parking garage.
Troops enjoyed rest periods in designated areas of the Capitol Complex until Thursday morning. Then, Capitol police sent them to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage. The relocation occurred less than 24 hours after the troops shook hands and took photographs with lawmakers at the inauguration. One guardsman noted: “Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage…We feel incredibly betrayed.”
They corralled troops into small areas even after some of them tested positive for COVID. According to reports, there was just one bathroom and one electrical outlet available to thousands of troops.
“We’ve already had just some in my unit alone test positive for COVID, and they’re just keeping us packed together with caution tape in small areas,” complained one guardsman.
It wasn’t long before photos of the National Guard sleeping in a parking garage reached social media.
“This is outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women keeping the US Capitol safe and secure,” tweeted Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). “We need it fixed and we need answers on how it happened.”
“No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress,” added Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC).
Cawthorn and Sinema were among several lawmakers to offer their personal offices to the troops. Even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) offered to help. She invited troops to use her office for naps and promising to “stock up on snacks.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), who was already upset with the fact that his troops were “vetted” over concerns about a possible inside job during the inauguration, responded to the fiasco by withdrawing all troops from Texas. “This is the most offensive thing I’ve ever heard,” he tweeted.
As reported by CNN, at least 12 guardsmen were removed from inauguration duty before the ceremony based on “questionable behavior” during vetting and/or “inappropriate” comments and text messages. They conducted the vetting process to ensure that no troops were working with extremist groups.
By 10:00PM on Thursday night, lawmakers had confirmed that the troops were moving back inside the Capitol Complex.
Most of the 25,000 troops sent to Washington, D.C. to defend the Capitol during the inauguration will return home within 5-10 days. However, 7,000 will remain until the end of the month.
Author’s Note: It seems Biden and Pelosi wanted the troops present on Inauguration Day and then kicked them to the curb once they no longer needed them.
Sources:
National Guard break time in Capitol area parking garage gets lawmakers fuming
National guard allowed back into Capitol complex after lawmakers erupt at banishment to parking garage.
12 Army National Guard members removed from inauguration duty