Capitol Police Request National Guard Presence Ahead of State of the Union
The U.S. Capitol Police has requested the National Guard assist in responding to an expected truck convoy intended to disrupt traffic around the Capitol ahead of the State of the Union address on March 1, 2022.
In a statement Friday, the Capitol Police said it was considering placing a temporary fence ahead of the event. In collaboration with the U. S. Secret Service, the Capitol Police may shut down roads near the Hill.
Several groups are planning similar truck convoys to Washington, D.C. in response to the COVID-19 protests that paralyzed Ottawa and temporarily blocked a border crossing between Ontario and Michigan. The length of the protests is unknown.
When requests for National Guard assistance were rejected after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Department of Defense streamlined the process for obtaining assistance for D.C. and federal agencies.
“Those agencies have asked for National Guard personnel to provide support at traffic control points in and around the district to help address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.
Last week, Pentagon officials briefed aides on the House Administration and Senate Rules committees concerning local, state, and federal law enforcement strategies for the potential truck convoy.
As previously reported by FEDagent, Congress passed the Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act (S.3377) late last year, empowering the Capitol Police chief to request support from the National Guard and federal law enforcement in the event of an emergency without prior approval from the police board.
There had been no decision made about whether to provide the support during the State of the Union, Kirby stated, but the Pentagon is considering the request.