Washington National Guard Activated To Secure D.C. Inauguration

OLYMPIA, WA — On Inauguration Day, nearly 400 members of the Washington National Guard will be in D.C. helping to secure the nation's Capitol. At the same time, up to 750 more will be in Olympia securing Washington's Capitol.

The news comes as an apparent response to the recent unrest in Washington D.C. — on Jan. 6, while Congress met to formally acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump, a pro-Trump demonstration stormed the Capitol, pushing past Capitol Police and into the Legislative Building itself. During the riot, 5 people were killed and dozens injured.

Biden's victory was certified once the building was cleared, but some fear that other protests planned around the inauguration could also spiral out of control. As a result, fences have been erected surrounding the U.S. Capitol, and 20,000 armed National Guard members are set to be deployed to D.C. to protect the Capitol building around Inauguration day.

Joining them will be the roughly 400 members of the Washington National Guard. As the guard announced Thursday, Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen will be supporting federal efforts in "a number of different roles."

While those guard members secure the nation's Capitol D.C., hundreds more will be stationed in Olympia, protecting Washington state's Capitol Campus from any other potential threats.

The FBI is warning of armed protests in all 50 states leading up to Biden's inauguration, and Olympia has already seen its share of turmoil: as rioters marched on D.C. Jan. 6, in Olympia another pro-Trump rally was breaching the gates to the governor's mansion.

Though no one was harmed during that breach and protesters were quickly escorted off the mansion grounds by Washington State Patrol troopers, Gov. Jay Inslee ordered up to 750 Washington National Guard members to patrol the Capitol Campus on Monday, while legislators met for the start of the 2021 legislative session.

During that time, a small protest did gather outside, and ultimately two people were arrested.

Following those arrests and the breach at the governor's mansion, Inslee announced Tuesday that the Washington State National Guard would remain in Olympia through at least Jan. 20.

"These unfortunate, necessary security precautions could last longer, but we are hopeful that we will soon see political temperatures cool and threat levels come down, bringing a related easing of these restrictions," said Inslee.

Read more: Will Inauguration Day Bring More Insurrection? 5 Things To Know