Meng Statement Following First Appropriations Briefing on Jan. 6 Security Failures

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after she and fellow members of the Appropriations Committee held a briefing with heads of multiple agencies involved in the security failures that permitted pro-Trump insurrectionists to attack the Capitol on January 6. Agencies included the U.S. Capitol Police, the House Sergeant at Arms, the U.S. Army, D.C. National Guard, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Park Police, U.S. Secret Service, and the F.B.I.

Meng's comments come in response to an article that reported Major General William J. Walker—commander of the D.C. National Guard—had his authority restricted to deploy troops quickly prior to that day.

"Today's briefing was a critical first step in piecing together the egregious security, coordination, and communication failures that led to the storming of the Capitol on January 6^th. Questions remain regarding the serious security lapses on that day. Following reports that Major General Walker, commander of the D.C. National Guard, had his immediate response authority taken away in the lead up to January 6^th, I asked if such restrictions were typical, and why they were taken away given the intelligence. But more questions remain: when exactly did this happen, what were the reasons, and who at the Pentagon gave that order," said Meng. "I also asked about the significant differences in protocol planning and lethal weapons provided to officers in past protests versus the recent domestic terrorist attack. We must also have a full accounting from the top three Capitol security officials who were present on the day of the attack, but have since resigned in the immediate aftermath: the former House and Senate Sergeants-at-Arms and the former Capitol Police Chief. The evidence in intelligence all point to massive gathering at the Capitol, but because of the epic failure of leadership to act, rank and file Capitol Police, Members of Congress, congressional staff, Capitol complex employees, and journalists were all left in harm's way. These are extremely troubling developments and I will continue to push for answers and accountability."