Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. expressed their outrage and offered their offices to members of the National Guard after images surfaced of them sleeping in a parking garage.
Soon after President Joe Biden’s inauguration and as Democrats took over Congress, National Guard troops were reportedly ordered to vacate the Capitol for their breaks. Troops that had been on hand to protect the federal building and its members reportedly felt “betrayed” and the news stunned lawmakers.
Late Thursday night, after significant backlash and calls by members of Congress, the order was reversed and the citizen members of the National Guard were allowed back to the Capitol building. But the initial images of troops, who had spent days in the cold securing the Capitol, sleeping on garage floors, and resting against cement pillars, drew emotional condemnation.
“Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands, and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed,” one Guardsman told Politico.
Here’s a video from the parking garage where 5,000 members of the National Guard who were guarding the Capitol are being forced to stay. pic.twitter.com/bREUxt1tRi
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) January 22, 2021
Photos of the troops and reports of the disrespectful treatment were shared on social media, sparking an outcry and demand for the order, which reportedly came from Capitol Police, to be reversed.
MILITARY SOURCE IN DC:
“For the last week my battalion has been sleeping on the floor in the Senate cafeteria. Today the Senate kicked us out & moved us to a cold parking garage.
5000 soldiers.
1 power outlet.
One bathroom.
This is how Joe Biden’s America treats solders.”PHOTOS pic.twitter.com/622sQmciq4
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) January 22, 2021
The removal of the troops from the buildings on Thursday was met with bipartisan backlash.
This is WRONG. And needs to be corrected immediately. https://t.co/94QrHnvPSH
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 22, 2021
“If this is true, it’s outrageous. I will get to the bottom of this,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York tweeted in reaction to the Politico story.
Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer—why are American troops who are tasked with keeping security at the Capitol being forced to sleep in a parking lot?
They deserve to be treated with respect, and we deserve answers. pic.twitter.com/J0R2dRC8bM
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 22, 2021
“We’ll get to the bottom of this and get it fixed. Congress is in session, but buildings are still closed to the public, so there’s plenty of room for troops to take a break in them,” GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas tweeted.
And with the inaugural over, we should start getting the Guardsmen back to their families, jobs, and communities anyway. The extreme security measures of the last couple weeks can be substantially reduced.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 22, 2021
“This is absolutely unacceptable and despicable treatment of our brave and dedicated National Guard who answered the call to serve. We need to demand answers now and this needs to be fixed immediately,” U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., tweeted.
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
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., slammed the treatment of Guard members as “outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful.”
Update: all National Guardsmen are welcomed back to the Capitol tonight. No more parking garages. https://t.co/yHSdKVNYdi
— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) January 22, 2021
South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott called out the move as “unconscionable & unsafe.”
Our troops deserve the utmost honor & respect for securing the Capitol & defending democracy this week.
This is unconscionable & unsafe. Whoever’s decision this was to house our National Guardsmen & women in underground parking lots must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/mBwpoog6YC
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) January 22, 2021
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both of her legs in combat, offered the use of her office and later updated to say she had made some calls, and that “Capitol Police have apologized” and were allowing the Guardsmen back.
“Unreal. I can’t believe that the same brave service members we’ve been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building. I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office,” she tweeted.
I meant ASAP when I said it. 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.
— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 22, 2021
Update: Troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed.
— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 22, 2021
Duckworth was among many who offered their services and their office space for the troops to use.
This is unacceptable. These men and women are serving our nation and should be treated with the respect they deserve. I have directed my team to help in any way we can, including offering our office space in D.C., to support these brave individuals in their mission. https://t.co/yB7qK5eSi1
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 22, 2021
“No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress,” GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn tweeted, along with a video of him delivering pizza.
I just visited the solders who have been abandoned & insulted by our leaders. I brought them pizza and told them that they can sleep in my office.
No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress
Our Troops deserve better. pic.twitter.com/4attFqhRRJ
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) January 22, 2021
“My office is free this week to any service members who’d like to use it for a break or take nap on the couch. We’ll stock up on snacks for you all too,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter.
Yeah this is not okay.
My office is free this week to any service members who’d like to use it for a break or take nap on the couch. We’ll stock up on snacks for you all too.
(We’re in the middle of moving offices and it’s a bit messy so don’t judge, but make yourself at home!) https://t.co/JyEvC4kg6o
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 22, 2021
Even CNN’s Jake Tapper called out the “mess” and reached out to offer help.
Whoever in DC is in charge of this National-Guard-sleeping-in-a-Senate-parking-lot mess, please get in touch with me; folks with connections to empty hotel rooms are also contacting me
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 22, 2021
“Simply unacceptable. You’re always welcome in my office,” Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst tweeted. “As a former Iowa National Guard member, I know how hard it is to wear those boots. Thank you for your service every day.
State governors, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, began to call their National Guard members home.
I’ve ordered the immediate return of all New Hampshire National Guard from Washington DC. They did an outstanding job serving our nation’s capital in a time of strife and should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions. @NHNationalGuard
— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) January 22, 2021
“Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, Inauguration Task Force Commander confirms that troops are out of the garage and back into the Capitol building as authorized by the USCP (U.S. Capitol Police) Watch Commander and the troops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward,” the Guard said in a statement later.
Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, Inauguration Task Force Commander, confirms in a statement to us that the
troops are out of the garage and back into the Capitol building as authorized
by the USCP Watch Commander. They will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward.— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) January 22, 2021
Many expressions of relief and gratitude were shared after reports that the Guardsmen were being allowed to go back to the federal building.
The National Guard confirms to @CBSNews the troops are out of the garage and back into the Capitol building and the troops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward. Video from the Guard: pic.twitter.com/SpkU5oszsY
— Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) January 22, 2021
“Just heard that our troops will be moved back inside tonight. We owe our National Guard and law enforcement officials a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay. They’ve put everything on the line to protect us. I’m glad to hear they’ll be back indoors tonight,” Sen. Scott tweeted.
“This should NEVER have been an issue, but glad to hear they have been welcomed back inside the Capitol,” Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted.
Earlier this evening my staff reached out to @TexasGuard leaders to make sure #TX Guardsmen are okay & that they’re being taken care of while serving in our Nation’s capital.
This should NEVER have been an issue, but glad to hear they have been welcomed back inside the Capitol.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 22, 2021
“Update: looks like they’re letting them back into the Capitol,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “The offer on snacks, etc still stands!”
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