National Guard Activation Looms for January 20 Presidential Inauguration

As the country gets ready for the inauguration of the new president on January 20, Washington, D.C., is in the middle of a string of high-stakes security events that have never happened before. The event is the end of two weeks of National Special Security Events (NSSEs), which included the certification of the Electoral College on Monday and the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday. A big Trump support event is set for January 19 at Capital One Arena, which will add to the chaos.

Matt McCool, who is in charge of the Washington field office for the U.S. Secret Service, said, "This has never happened before." “But we can change and adapt.... We're going to be ready.

The U.S. Secret Service, which is in charge of NSSE, has asked the National Guard to send 7,800 troops to help with security at the inauguration. Sabrina Singh, a deputy spokeswoman for the Pentagon, confirmed the request and said she expected it to be approved soon. It is expected that about 8,000 troops will help with logistics and security.

This inauguration comes after the rough one in 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack were going on. Several events this year that have never happened together before show how hard it is for government agencies to keep things safe and in order.

The National Guard has been a part of presidential inaugurations for a long time. This is part of their larger purpose to support national events and protect democracy.

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