Defense Secretary Austin overruled National Guard chief on keeping troops at Capitol: memo
Defense Sec. Austin said he will extend National Guard's time at the U.S. Capitol
By Gillian Turner, Evie Fordham | Fox News
National Guard chief opposed extended stay at the Capitol: Report
Fox News' Gillian Turner reports on the dispute over the National Guard troops' extended deployment at the U.S. Capitol.
EXCLUSIVE: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin overruled the chief of the National Guard Bureau with the decision to keep 2,280 National Guard troops at the U.S. Capitol, according to a memo obtained by the Fox News Channel.
Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, laid out in the memo his assessment that the National Guard cannot and should not fulfill the Capitol Police's troop request at this time, making the case that the National Guard is already over-stretched due to coronavirus constraints, civil disturbances and wildfires.
"Efforts to date have not secured enough volunteers among supporting states to meet the USCP request of 2,280 soldiers, nor Option B of 1000 soldiers," the memo stated.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/national-guard-chief-capitol-defense-extension-memo
