Samuel Case, FISM News
Last night, National Guard troops stationed in Washington D.C. for Biden’s inauguration were met with the troubling news that they would no longer be allowed to enter the Capitol Complex. The news came abruptly, forcing thousands of troops to find lodging in a parking garage with no amenities and only two bathrooms. It was only until after midnight they were brought back inside. It has been reported that Donald Trump is offering the Trump Hotel in D.C. as a resting place for the troops.
A guardsman told Politico the troops felt “betrayed,” saying “After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage.”
The National Guard Bureau released a statement explaining why the troops were found in such sad lodging:
The National Guard continues to assist and support the U.S. Capitol Police. As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities.
Regardless, the treatment of the troops drew outrage from both sides of the aisle. Democratic Senator Krysten Sinema of Arizona described the incident as “outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful” and offered her office as a resting spot.
My office is available; the Guard is welcome to it. There is plenty of space in the US Capitol for the men and women keeping us safe. https://t.co/YAUMnRdOrt
— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) January 22, 2021
Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida expressed gratitude to the National Guard and urged for the decision “to be reversed.”
We should be grateful to the members of the National Guard who are here securing the Capitol. I don’t know who ordered them to go sleep in a garage and can’t understand why they would do that.
It needs to be reversed.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 22, 2021
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced he would be pulling Texas National Guard Troops from the Capitol. It’s not known if the parking garage incident was his rationale for doing so.
I have instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state. @TexasGuard
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 22, 2021
Abbott had already voiced his frustration with the National Guard’s treatment in Washington. Earlier this week he said it was “offensive” that troops were being vetted for extremism before the inauguration, adding he would never send troops to D.C. again “if they are disrespected like this.”