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Twice as many troops in DC for inauguration than in Afghanistan and Iraq combined

By FOX 5 DC Digital Team
Updated  January 15, 2021 10:39am CST
Military
FOX 5 DC

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - The head of the National Guard says at least 10,000 troops will be deployed in D.C. by Saturday, and an additional 5,000 could be requested from other states.

National Guard members take a break within the Capitol

National Guard members are pouring into DC ahead of the Inauguration. On Wednesday, some National Guard members took a break within the Capitol building itself - one week after it was assaulted by pro-Trump protesters.

As the Military Times reports, that figure is twice the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq combined.

There are currently 6,200 Guard members in the city from D.C. and five nearby states. The increase in requests for Guard members on Monday comes as officials brace for more, possibly violent protests surrounding the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

READ MORE: National Guard deploying at least 10K troops to DC

Last week, the Guard helped erect a seven-foot non-scalable wall around the previously besieged Capitol building.

They have also helped to secure the inauguration perimeter, which includes not only the Capitol, but stretches into the District as well.

READ MORE: DC officials now working to secure inauguration perimeter before Saturday

Earlier this week, photos of National Guard members resting in the Capitol went viral. The D.C. National Guard released a statement on the Guardsmen being armed and resting during their shifts. You can read it in full here.