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A five-month mission at the U.S. Capitol that at its peak involved 26,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen from all 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia ended this week.
But the mission, which has been one of many for the Guard in the past 15 months, could affect Guard training later this year.
As of Monday, about 1,000 National Guard troops remained in Washington, D.C., waiting to travel home following the end of their mission, according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Last week, about 2,100 Guardsmen were deployed to the city for the mission that began following the deadly riot at the Capitol building on Jan. 6.
The total cost of that mission is $521 million, Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, that chief of the National Guard Bureau, told Congress last week.
Money for the mission came from Guard pay and allowance and operations and maintenance funds, the general said, when questioned by senators concerned about possible overuse of the Guard in the past year.
Hokanson said the Guard would need those funds reimbursed by Aug. 1 to avoid impacts to drills in August and September.
When asked on Monday, Kirby said “there’s no reimbursal [sic] plan.” He also said there are no current plans for a Guard Quick Reaction Force.
Such a force has been a topic of debate in Congress. The House passed a $1.9 billion Capitol Security Bill on Thursday that would reimburse the National Guard for its cost, increase security measures around the Capitol and provide $200 million for the Guard to implement the new force.
Republicans and NGAUS have both spoken out against the need for such a quick reaction force.
As Guardsmen are leaving Washington, senior leaders have praised their efforts over the 5-month mission.
“Many of them volunteered for this duty, and most of them did so on little notice,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “In good weather and bad — sometimes cold and wet and tired — they provided critical capability to the Capitol Police and local authorities.”
Austin said the Guard soldiers and airmen “lived out in very tangible ways the oath they took to support and defend the Constitution.”
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden also thanked the Guard. In a joint statement, the couple said the nation has asked much of its Guard in the past year, not only defending the Capitol “but supporting our fight against COVID-19, responding to storm damage and wildfires, and deploying internationally to support peacekeeping missions.”
The Bidens said they have a special appreciation for the Guard based on their late son, Beau Biden, who served in the Delaware Army Guard.
“Since the insurrection on January 6, thousands of proud service members, from states and territories all across our Union, have stood watch over the citadel of our democracy,” the Bidens said. “As they return now to their homes and families, we salute each of them for their commitment to country.”
