JOLIET, IL – MARCH 27: The Illinois National Guard armory where Hasan Edmonds served sits along a commercial street on March 27, 2015 in Joliet, Illinois. Hasan, 22, who was a Specialist in the Illinois National Guard, was arrested at Chicago’s Midway Airport where he is suspected of trying to travel to Egypt to try and join ISIS. His cousin Jonas Edmonds, 29, was arrested at his home in suburban Aurora. The two are accused of plotting a terrorist attack on the armory which was to be carried out by Jonas. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The Illinois National Guard will have to cut training and force time off if not reimbursed for providing security to the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 attack, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday.
Hundreds of members of the Illinois Guard were deployed to Washington, D.C. following the attack by a throng protesting the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Pritzker said if the U.S. Senate does not quickly consider legislation for reimbursement, the state Guard will have to reduce exercises and weekend training and implement service member furloughs.
The governor's office did not respond to a request for the amount owed Illinois.
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“Even as the events of Jan. 6 were still unfolding, heroes from across the nation fearlessly mobilized in defense of their country, and every day that our debts to them go unpaid is an insult to their service,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Congress needs to act with urgency to not only protect the integrity of our National Guard but to do everything possible to prevent another Jan. 6."
In all, 25,000 Guard members from around the U.S. provided security after the Capitol attack. Some stayed until the end of May to provide backup to local law enforcement.
