On Behalf of the U.S. Army: Statement on the National Guard Response in the District of Columbia From the Secretary of the Army

 Jan. 8, 2021

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“During a rapidly evolving situation Wednesday, Jan. 6, the Department of Defense fielded multiple calls from elected officials requesting and offering assistance to the unprecedented breach of the U.S. Capitol Building. The Army and the D.C. National Guard were coordinating with the federal Capitol Police and the local D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to assist with an immediate response.

Secretary of the Army, Hon. Ryan McCarthy, first spoke with Governor Larry Hogan at 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 6. He thanked him and accepted his offer. Secretary McCarthy assured him his service members will be taken care of and provided a point-to-point contact.

Throughout the day and the morning of Jan. 7, Secretary McCarthy spoke directly with the governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Additional National Guard support from New York and Delaware was also approved and communications with all of these states and their leadership are ongoing at multiple levels.

When Gen. Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, was alerted that the Virginia National Guard may have been mobilized, he called the Adjutant General of Virginia at 3:46 p.m., Jan. 6., and confirmed their governor activated a military police company that would be available the following morning on Jan. 7.

At 3:55 p.m. on Jan. 6, Gen. Hokanson spoke with the Maryland TAG who confirmed their governor had activated the Maryland National Guard response force and 100 service members would be able to make it to D.C. in 8-10 hours. Additionally, they would have a follow-on element of 150-200 personnel available at a later time.

Gen. Hokanson coordinated a call at 7:00 p.m. with N.Y., N.J., Pa., and Del. TAGs to identify available personnel and the fastest timeline they could be in the National Capitol Region.

The first Maryland National Guard arrived in D.C. at 10:00 a.m., Jan 7.  The first Virginia National Guard arrived at noon.

Throughout the day and the morning of Jan. 7, Secretary McCarthy spoke directly with governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Additional National Guard support from NY and DE was also approved and communication with all of these states and their leadership are ongoing at multiple levels.

The DoD system is structured to require permission from the Secretary of Defense for out-of-state Guard units to enter the NCR.

We greatly appreciate the support from the entire National Guard team across the region to respond to law enforcement officers who needed help and we are proud of our Guard members who supported the lead agencies in this mission.”