Missouri, Kansas National Guard members headed to D.C. ahead of Biden inauguration
The Missouri and Kansas National Guards will provide assistance in Washington, D.C., ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol last week.
The Kansas National Guard is sending approximately 300 members to Washington after Gov. Laura Kelly authorized their deployment.
“The presidential inauguration is a collaborative event, requiring extraordinary support from many federal and state agencies,” Kelly said in a statement. “The National Guard has supported presidential inaugurations since the founding of our nation. I’m incredibly thankful for everything they do, and this is just the latest example of our Kansas National Guard being always ready to answer the call for our state and nation.”
The Missouri National Guard said in a statement that Gov. Mike Parson directed the Guard to aid the D.C. National Guard and that it is currently authorized to provide assistance for up to 31 days. The Missouri National Guard said it wouldn’t disclose the number of personnel sent to Washington, citing “operational concerns.”
“The Missouri National Guard will provide assistance as requested,” the statement said. “The Missouri National Guard is well trained and equipped for this mission and previously provided like assistance in DC in June of 2020.”
Missouri Guard members will support civilian law enforcement agencies with “security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety to district and federal agencies” through Biden’s inauguration, the statement said.
Thousands of National Guard soldiers from all across the country are heading to Washington as the city fortifies ahead of the inauguration. The FBI has warned armed protests by violent Trump supporters are planned in Washington as well as in state capitals in the coming days.
D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee estimated Wednesday that more than 20,000 National Guard members would be active in the city on Inauguration Day.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
This story was originally published January 14, 2021 at 3:14 PM.
