Keeping National Guard members stationed in Washington D.C., since the January 6 Capitol riots has cost an estimated $480 million, with as many as 5,000 to 7,000 troops set to stay in the district until mid-March.
Last month 26,000 National Guard members were deployed to help secure the inauguration. A number of National Guard units have had their deployments extended involuntarily, though most of the troops will stay in Washington voluntarily. Two officials familiar with the plan told Bloomberg that the deployment would cost nearly half-a-billion dollars and said the Army could announce the figure as soon as Friday.
Federal law enforcement has called for the troops to remain in Washington, D.C., though National Guard members stationed at the Capitol have not been informed of any specific threat.
The troops will remain in the district to protect the Capitol from what was described as “impeachment security concerns,” including the potential for demonstrations during the Senate trial which is set to begin next week, according to Politico.
Guard members told the outlet they had not been informed of any specific threat, though federal authorities are concerned about the potential for continued unrest, particularly sparked by far-right militia groups. There is also concern that unrest could occur on March 4, the date some QAnon conspiracy theorists believe Trump will be inaugurated a second time.
The FBI also predicted widespread rioting at state capitols across the country on the Saturday after the January 6 Capitol Hill riot but no large protests ever materialized.
“We are not going to allow any surprises again,” one Guard member told Politico, referring to the lack of preparedness for the rioting last month.
When the Guard members first arrived in Washington, D.C. they…
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