"The D.C National Guard was formed in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson to defend the newly created District of Columbia. As such, the Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard is subordinate solely to the President of the United States. This authority to activate the D.C. National Guard has been delegated, by the President, to the Secretary of Defense and further delegated to the Secretary of the Army. The D.C. National Guard is the only National Guard unit, out of all of the 54 states and territories, which reports only to the President. "
From the D.C. National Guard's website:
https://dc.ng.mil/About-Us/
This article has a timeline that I found informative and touches on your question about deploying the National Guard from Virginia:
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/15/9568...eline-of-security-at-the-capitol-on-january-6
As to Trump approving use of the National Guard - do you mean the ones that were requested by the Mayor and allowed to act to control the flow of traffic but weren't allowed to act as law enforcement?
This timeline is intended to memorialize the planning and execution efforts of the Department of
Defense to address the Violent Attack at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The timeline is as follows:
Thursday, December 31, 2020 (New Year’s Eve)
• Mayor Muriel Bowser and Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, D.C. Director of Homeland Security
and Emergency Management Agency, deliver a written request for D.C. National Guard
(DCNG) support to D.C. Metro Police Department (MPD) and Fire and Emergency Service.
Saturday, January 2, 2021
• The Acting Secretary of Defense (A/SD) confers with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff (CJCS) and the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) on the Mayor’s written request.
Sunday, January 3, 2021
• DoD confirms with U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) that there is no request for DoD support.
• A/SD meets with select Cabinet Members to discuss DoD support to law enforcement
agencies and potential requirements for DoD support.
• A/SD and CJCS meet with the President. President concurs in activation of the DCNG to
support law enforcement.
Monday, January 4, 2021
• USCP confirms there is no requirement for DoD support in a phone call with SECARMY.
• The A/SD, in consultation with CJCS, SECARMY, and DoD General Counsel (GC), reviews
the Department’s plan to be prepared to provide support to civil authorities, if asked, and
approves activation of 340 members of the DCNG to support Mayor Bowser’s request.
o Support provided in response to Mayor Bowser’s request includes support at:
Traffic Control Points: 90 personnel (180 total/2 shifts); Metro station
support: 24 personnel (48 total/2 shifts); Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil
Support Team: 20 personnel; and Internal Command and Control: 52
personnel.
o A/SD also authorizes SECARMY to deploy a Quick Reaction Force (40 personnel
staged at Joint Base Andrews) if additional support is requested by civil authorities.
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
• Mayor Bowser delivers a letter addressed to the Acting Attorney General, A/SD, and
SECARMY confirming that there are no additional support requirements from the D.C.
• 255 DCNG arrive in D.C. and begin to manage traffic control points alongside local law
enforcement.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
0830: A/SD and CJCS review DoD plan to support law enforcement agencies and request an
exercise regarding DoD contingency response options.
1130: A/SD participates in table-top exercise regarding DoD contingency response options.
1305: A/SD receives open source reports of demonstrator movements to U.S. Capitol.
1326: USCP orders evacuation of Capitol complex.
1334: SECARMY phone call with Mayor Bowser in which Mayor Bowser communicates
request for unspecified number of additional forces.
1349: Commanding General, DCNG, Walker phone call with USCP Chief Sund. Chief Sund
communicates request for immediate assistance.
1422: SECARMY phone call with D.C. Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Dr. Rodriguez, and MPD
leadership to discuss the current situation and to request additional DCNG support.
1430: A/SD, CJCS, and SECARMY meet to discuss USCP and Mayor Bowser’s requests.
1500: A/SD determines all available forces of the DCNG are required to reinforce MPD and
USCP positions to support efforts to reestablish security of the Capitol complex.
1500: SECARMY directs DCNG to prepare available Guardsmen to move from the armory to
the Capitol complex, while seeking formal approval from A/SD for deployment. DCNG
prepares to move 150 personnel to support USCP, pending A/SD’s approval.
1504: A/SD, with advice from CJCS, DoD GC, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
(CNGB), SECARMY, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, provides verbal approval of the
full activation of DCNG (1100 total) in support of the MPD. Immediately upon A/SD
approval, Secretary McCarthy directs DCNG to initiate movement and full mobilization.
In response, DCNG redeployed all soldiers from positions at Metro stations and all
available non-support and non-C2 personnel to support MPD. DCNG begins full
mobilization.
1519: SECARMY phone call with Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi about the nature of
Mayor Bowser’s request. SECARMY explains A/SD already approved full DCNG
mobilization.
1526: SECARMY phone call with Mayor Bowser and MPD police chief relays there was no
denial of their request, and conveys A/SD approval of the activation of full DCNG.
1546: CNGB phone call with the Adjutant General (TAG) of Virginia to discuss support in
Washington D.C. TAG said Governor had ordered mobilization of forces at 1532.
1548: SECARMY departs Pentagon for MPD HQ.
1555: CNGB phone call with TAG of Maryland to discuss support in Washington D.C. TAG
said governor ordered the mobilization of the rapid response force. TAG reports Governor
had ordered mobilization of the rapid response force at 1547.
1610: SECARMY arrives at MPD HQ.
1618: A/SD, CJCS, SECARMY, and CNGB discuss availability of National Guard (NG) forces
from other States in the region. A/SD gives voice approval for out-of-State NG forces to
muster and to be prepared to deploy to D.C.
1632: A/SD provides verbal authorization to re-mission DCNG to conduct perimeter and
clearance operations in support of USCP. SECARMY to provide public notification of
support.
1640: SECARMY phone call with Governor of Maryland. Governor to send Maryland NG
troops to D.C., expected to arrive on January 7, 2021.
1702: Departure of 154 DCNG from D.C. Armory in support of USCP. Arrive at Capitol at
1740, swear in with USCP, and begin support operations.
1745: A/SD signs formal authorization for out-of-State NG to muster and gives voice approval
for deployment in support of USCP.
1814: USCP, MPD, and DCNG successfully establish perimeter on the west side of the U.S.
Capitol.
1936: A/SD provides vocal approval to lease fences in support of the USCP for security of the
Capitol building.
2000: USCP declares Capitol building secure.
Note: This document has been updated to more appropriately reflect the characterization of
events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.