US National Guard personnel preparing to leave the Capitol

Military officials revealed to the “Washington Post” newspaper that the US National Guard will leave the Capitol building after it took over the task of protecting it since January 6 after supporters of former President Donald Trump attacked it.

According to the American newspaper, the continued presence of the National Guard has become a point of debate among lawmakers, as some have debated whether the armed closure of the Capitol campus was necessary or not.

The number of members of these forces reached 2,300 soldiers at the beginning of the events, but it increased to 26 thousand soldiers before the inauguration ceremony of President Joe Biden, and decreased to 5,000 soldiers as the threats targeting the Capitol decreased.

Of these, 1,700 soldiers will leave Washington, DC, on Wednesday, according to Chelsea Johnson, a spokeswoman for the National Guard for the capital.
And Defense Minister Lloyd Austin said in a previous press release, “These pilots and soldiers not only protected the building, but also the legislators … as they tangibly lived the oath that they swore to defend and protect the constitution.”

Source: “Washington Post”