National Guard Presence in Capital Unusual and Unnecessary: Former Military Intelligence Officer

Members of the National Guard listen to President Joe Biden give his inaugural address during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. Greg Nash/AFP via Getty Images

The continued presence of at least 5,000 members of the National Guard in Washington until March is unusual, unprecedented, unnecessary, and is in danger of becoming akin to an “occupation force,” a former military intelligence officer said on Jan. 25.

Retired Lt. Steven Rogers, a former FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force member, suggests that the planned presence of thousands of Guard members even after the inauguration of President Joe Biden—which saw more than 26,000 on duty—is cause for concern.