Fact check: Who has authority to deploy National Guard troops to the US Capitol?

1. Summary of the results

The authority to deploy National Guard troops to the US Capitol involves a complex legal and command structure:

• For Washington D.C. specifically, only three entities have direct deployment authority: the President, Defense Secretary, and U.S. Army Secretary ^[1]
• For state National Guard units, governors have ultimate discretion to approve or reject presidential requests under Section 502(f) of Title 32 U.S. Code ^[2]
• The Capitol Police Board makes decisions regarding Capitol security, not Congress members ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

• During the January 6th events, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser specifically requested National Guard assistance, leading Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller to authorize up to 6,200 troops from multiple states ^[4]
• When deployed nationwide, the President serves as commander-in-chief, but within individual states, governors typically assume command ^[5]
• National Guard troops can be deployed for various purposes beyond Capitol security, including supporting Marines in protecting federal property and conducting immigration operations ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Common misconceptions about National Guard deployment authority need addressing:

• There's a widespread misunderstanding about Congressional authority - specifically, neither the Speaker of the House nor any member of Congress has deployment authority ^[1]
• Some have incorrectly suggested that Nancy Pelosi blocked National Guard deployment - this is false, as records show she and Chuck Schumer actually appealed to military leaders for deployment during the Capitol attack ^[3]
• The question's simplicity might suggest a straightforward command structure, when in reality it involves multiple levels of authority and varies depending on location and circumstances ^{[2] [5]}