National Guard deployment to DC may have been a 'superspreader' event

Washington State National Guardsmen returned home from the nation's capital with a coronavirus outbreak among their ranks. This raises concerns that the massive gathering of troops in Washington, DC for President Joe Biden's inauguration may have been something of a "superspreader" event, RealClearPolitics reports.

At least seven members of the National Guard from Washington state and one spouse have tested positive for coronavirus since the inauguration. The affected troops reportedly worked in close quarters of each other throughout their time in DC.

Meanwhile, states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada have refused to disclose how many of their National Guardsmen have tested positive for coronavirus since the inauguration, citing privacy laws.

However, a commitment to privacy has not impressed spouses of National Guardsmen, who are wondering whether their deployed spouses will spread coronavirus to them upon returning home.

These outbreaks have also raised questions about the general treatment of National Guard troops, especially after it was revealed that some members of the Guard were seen sleeping in a garage with access to only one bathroom. Police reportedly kicked National Guardsmen out of the US Capitol, allegedly because they were not wearing masks.

The troops were allowed back into the building after intervention from Senator Tammy Duckworth.

Others have questioned why the National Guard troops were not tested for coronavirus before attending the inauguration. Of all the states which deployed National Guard troops to DC that day, Oklahoma and California were the only two which tested their troops.

However, Oklahoman troops were the only ones in the country who were tested upon returning home. Back in Washington State, the National Guard spokeswoman offered excuses.

"We aren't tracking any requirement to perform COVID tests prior to a domestic mission. Our men and women traveled largely on a military aircraft–and followed the direction provided by the agencies they supported in DC," said spokeswoman Katrina Shagren.

She also noted the time crunch they had to mobilize the Guard "within a week, we were asked to mobilize more than 1,000 guardsmen to support law enforcement partners at the state’s and nation’s capital."

The National Guard was deployed in Washington DC to protect the inauguration from experiencing an event similar to the storming of the Capitol on Jan 6. However, no significant protests occurred in DC on the day of the inauguration and many members of the National Guard are still deployed in the city, raising questions as to how necessary their presence really is.

A number of Republican legislators and conservative figures have called for the National Guard to be returned home.

"The National Guard answered the call at a critical time, but its mission is now complete. It's time to reopen the Capitol Grounds to the American people," wrote Republican Senator Tom Cotton in a recent op-ed on Fox News.

Some Democrats such as Nancy Pelosi, however, have argued that the National Guard presence is still necessary, citing "the enemy within." It is unclear what evidence, if any, there is to suggest their presence is required.