A total of 700 National Guard members have been activated in the D.C-area ahead of next week's State of the Union address Tuesday night and potential trucker convoy-related protests.
Four hundred of the guardsmen are local D.C. troops, which have been activated as part of a request from the D.C. Emergency Management Agency to provide traffic control and enhanced security in anticipation of the protests surrounding President Joe Biden's speech.
The other 300 Guard personnel are from outside D.C. and have also been approved upon requests from U.S. Capitol Police. Such personnel include approximately 100 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers, 100 New Jersey National Guard troops and about 80 West Virginia National Guard members who will support security operations within Washington starting later this week.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. >Sign up here.
The request was activated as of 1 p.m. and is approved to continue throughout 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 7.
Neither approval allows troops' use of helicopters or other aircraft by the National Guard or the sharing of equipment with law enforcement agencies. They will also not carry firearms or take part in law enforcement or domestic-surveillance activities.
