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WASHINGTON, D.C.- On Thursday, February 5th, U.S. military officials announced that the cost of deploying roughly 26,000 National Guard troops to help secure the U.S. Capitol will end up costing taxpayers nearly $500 million.
Guard deployment to secure DC will cost nearly $500 million https://t.co/r5E1PvP59i
— Baronian Consulting (@BaronianConsult) February 5, 2021
The deployment, which happened in the wake of the January 6th riot, brought troops from all 50 states and four territories as law enforcement agencies focused on locking down the Capitol for the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
The Associated Press reported that thousand of Guard members poured into the nation’s capital and were stationed across the city to block traffic, protect lawmakers, and to protect landmarks.
Officials said that nearly $500 million includes the costs of transporting Guard troops from their states to Washington, D.C., their salaries, and benefits as well as housing and other essentials.
Military officials were not authorized to publicly discuss internal figures and spoke on condition of anonymity. Since the troops were activated by the federal government for more than 30 days, their health benefits were also covered, which added to the price of the deployment.
Guard deployment to secure DC will cost $500 million https://t.co/SEU4c6HpJa pic.twitter.com/DKkUYKUaSp
— Hayspost (@hayspost) February 5, 2021
Reportedly, the money is expected to cover the costs of the Guard through mid-March, when troops are expected to leave. Authorities said between 5,000 and 7,000 troops are currently scheduled to stay in Washington, D.C. through March 14th.
According to reports, from January 7th through March 14th, the cost will average out to about $7,500,000 per day.
Fox News reported that Acting Army Secretary John E. Whitley said that at the end of January, the Guard had received requests for follow-on assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement entities in D.C. At the time, he said:
“National Guard members will be postured to meet the requirements of the supported civil authorities up to and including protective equipment and arming if necessary.”
Guard deployment to secure DC will cost nearly $500 million: https://t.co/erD848qXSe pic.twitter.com/Mka499H2NR
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) February 5, 2021
The continued presence of the Guard has provoked criticism from some. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said:
“The lesson of the Capitol riot is not that we should quarter a standing army at the Capitol just in case, but rather that our security measures should be calibrated to the actual threats.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a terrorism bulletin warning about possible additional violence. Their press release said, in part:
“The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential inauguration.”
It added:
“Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.”
DHS Issues a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin. https://t.co/Id2uFvuhUp pic.twitter.com/vKjJl5Nzui
— Security Today (@SecurToday) February 2, 2021
According to the press release, the duration for this bulletin is from January 27th through April 30th. Since 2015, DHS has used the NTAS bulletin to identify “homegrown terrorists” inspired by foreign states or terrorist groups.
This is the first time the department has issued a bulletin about a threat to the homeland that is wholly domestic, originating from what it terms, “Domestic Violent Extremists” or DVEs.
A DHS bulletin describes current developments or trends about terrorism threats and it should not be confused with an elevated alert, which warns of a credible terrorism threat or an imminent alert, which warns of a credible, specific and impending terrorism threat.
DHS Issues Its First National Terrorism Bulletin for Domestic Extremistshttps://t.co/qQ9gcXaKg3
— Laquita Christian (@laquialene69) February 1, 2021
According to DHS, domestic violent extremists have been targeting people with opposing views over the last year, motivated by everything from anger over COVID-19 restrictions to the 2020 election results.
Congressman Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security said:
“The domestic terrorism attack on our Capitol earlier this month shined a light on a threat that has been right in front of our faces for years.”
