National Guard troops from D.C., Maryland and Virginia will remain in D.C. after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
The D.C. National Guard will be placed on a 30-day mobilization, ensuring that troops will be on the ground through Inauguration Day and beyond, two defense officials told NBC News.
The Maryland National Guard will remain in D.C. through the end of January, Gov. Larry Hogan announced at a news conference Thursday afternoon, decrying the "heinous and violent assault."
About 2,000 personnel from Virginia's National Guard will stay in the District at least through Jan. 20, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday afternoon, and Virginia State Police also will remain. He said the decision to extend the National Guard's deployment was based on conversations with Virginia's emergency teams and D.C. officials.
"We will be there until President-elect Biden is officially sworn in," Northam said on Twitter.
U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said Thursday that 6,200 Guard members will be in D.C. by the weekend, from states including Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and New York.
Hogan said Rep. Steny Hoyer called him Wednesday, pleaded for help and said he was sheltering with Senate leader Chuck Schumer and House leader Nancy Pelosi.
Hogan said he authorized the Maryland National Guard to respond on Wednesday but was “repeatedly denied approval to do so” by the U.S. Secretary of Defense's office. The troopers were approved to enter D.C. after about 90 minutes and were the first from out of state to respond, the governor said.
The D.C. troops will remain unarmed and will wear riot gear.
About 200 of the troops were on D.C. streets on Thursday, a day after angry supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a chaotic protest aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power. Four deaths were reported on or around the U.S. Capitol grounds.
Photos: Pro-Trump Supporters Breach the Capitol Building
D.C. troops will be at traffic control checkpoints and will support U.S. Capitol police, including by helping them reinforce the perimeter around the Capitol Building.
Law enforcement that responded to the Capitol on Wednesday included the D.C. National Guard, Maryland National Guard, Virginia National Guard and officers from multiple D.C.-area police departments. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he would send 1,000 Guard troops to assist with security.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
