Democratic Reps. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) and Betty McCollum (Minn.) are calling on the Army to provide cots for National Guard troops stationed at the U.S. Capitol ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The two lawmakers, who are both members of the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy on Thursday after photographs emerged showing troops sleeping on the floor with their firearms at their sides.
“We were disappointed though to see in a variety of images in the media, that Guard personnel are having to take breaks or rest on the floors of the Capitol. Staff were on the call with Vice Chief of Staff General [Joseph] Martin, and understand that not all Guard personnel currently have secured lodging, and that the Army is considering utilizing the convention center for lodging,” the lawmakers wrote in their one-page letter.
“With the uncertainty for needed rest and recoup time in flux, and to ensure that the Guard members are fully able to execute their protection mission, we urge you to make available cots or other equipment to more easily facilitate their ability to rest while they are on Capitol grounds,” the lawmakers said.
A defense official told The Hill that Martin and Army Undersecretary James McPherson explained to Congressional staffers on Thursday morning that the soldiers in the photographs were in designated break areas between shifts.
The leaders “assured staffers that all of the 7,000 National Guard men and women currently in D.C. have appropriate lodging accommodations, and that the additional influx of troops for the inauguration will also have appropriate accommodations,” the official said.
“The Guard is currently working with the appropriate staff at the Capitol building to give Soldiers designated rooms that are not in the open for Soldiers to take breaks in.”
The D.C. National Guard said earlier that the troops were resting between shifts and that the Capitol is “not where they are lodging when they are off-duty.”
National Guard troops were deployed to the Capitol following last week’s deadly attack that forced a joint session of Congress to temporarily delay certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
Five people died in last week’s riot, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.
Over 20,000 armed guardsmen are expected to be in Washington, D.C., for Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.