The Capitol Police now have authority to call in assistance from the DC National Guard or other federal law enforcement agencies if faced with a situation like on January 6th, when senior administration officials refuse to authorize the release of National Guard troops to protect the Capitol, the Associated Press reports.
As hundreds of domestic terrorist attacked Congress in the Capitol on January 6th, Donald Trump, the then-president, refused to deploy federal law enforcement agents and National Guard troops to assist the Capitol Police and DC Metropolitan Police who were under siege from the rioters. One officer died in the immediate aftermath of the attack, and at least four took their own lives in the weeks after.
The bill, which passed both chambers of Congress on voice votes, allows the chief of the Capitol Police to request assistance in certain situations without having to get the approval of the force’s governing board or leaders in Congress.