U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga, Fred Upton, and John Moolenaar led a group of Michigan Republicans in calling for an intelligence briefing on the redeployment of the Michigan National Guard to Washington, D.C., following their recent work during the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
“Many of the same men and women of the Michigan National Guard who have valiantly protected the Capitol during the inaugural mission will now be returning to Washington, D.C., after only being able to spend a short time with loved ones back home in Michigan,” wrote the Michigan lawmakers in a Jan. 28 letter sent to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
“We must also consider the health threat and undue stress that the ongoing pandemic is causing on our service members as well as their families,” the members wrote.
According to their letter, 1,000 members of the Michigan National Guard will return to assist with ongoing security efforts at the U.S. Capitol until mid-March, a significant increase in the number of troops that also concerns the lawmakers, who included U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Peter Meijer (R-MI).
“It is critical that there remains due justification to send members of Michigan’s National Guard back to Washington, D.C.,” wrote Reps. Huizenga, Upton, and Moolenaar.
Copies of the letter also were sent to U.S. House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Acting Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police Yogananda Pittman, and Acting Sergeant at Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives Timothy Blodgett.