Capitol Police Officials Ask the National Guard to Stay Another 60 Days
Two U.S. officials said that the Capitol Police will be asking for a 60-day extension of the National Guard and that it’s being reviewed.
A third official said a formal request from the Capitol Police has not yet arrived at the Pentagon, though they are aware it is pending.
The move comes as the Capitol was on high alert after threats of another possible attack plot tied to March 4.
There are currently more than 5,000 National Guard members still in the city from a peak of 25,000 present for security at the Jan. 20 inauguration.
The scheduled end of the current mission for the remaining troops is March 12.
The need for the National Guard presence — armed behind high fences topped with razor wire — has become a focus of debate over how much security is needed around the Capitol going forward.
