Law enforcement response to the January 6 United States Capitol attack
A shorter, easier-to-understand version
During the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, law enforcement faced a sudden, large crowd and struggled at first to keep the building secure. The Capitol Police (USCP) had not expected a riot, and the Capitol Police Board could have asked for the National Guard, but it did not do so on January 3. Intelligence warnings existed before the event, but there were major gaps in planning and sharing information among agencies.
Ahead of the march, a period of confusion and slow preparation hampered the response. Riot shields and other equipment were not ready, and officers were sent out with limited use of less-lethal tools. At about 12:49 p.m., two bombs were found near the Capitol, and soon after rioters breached a police line on the west side. By 2:12 p.m., rioters had entered the Capitol building, leading to chaotic scenes as members of Congress and staff were evacuated or sheltered.
The fight to protect Congress began as federal, district, and local officers tried to push back the crowd and restore order. The Department of Defense was slow to deploy the National Guard, despite requests from Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and other officials. A number of steps followed:
- Sund asked for National Guard assistance around 1:49 p.m.
- A conference call at 2:22 p.m. included DC officials asking for help; DoD initially refused to deploy immediately.
- The Virginia and Maryland National Guards were later mobilized, and the National Guard was finally approved for deployment around 4:32 p.m.
- The DC Metropolitan Police and other forces worked to create a perimeter and support operations, with added help from Fairfax County and other nearby agencies arriving later in the day.
Around 4:24 p.m., a 12-person FBI SWAT team arrived at the Capitol Complex. By about 5:40 p.m., police had established a perimeter on the Capitol’s west side, and at 8:00 p.m. the Capitol Police declared the Capitol building secure.
Two pipe bombs were discovered during the day:
- A bomb was found near the Republican National Committee (RNC) offices around 12:45 p.m.
- A second bomb was found near the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters about 1:00 p.m., which caused Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to be evacuated. The devices were later neutralized.
The day’s most lethal moment occurred at 2:44 p.m., when Ashli Babbitt, a rioter, was shot by Capitol Police while trying to break into a restricted area. The shooting was investigated by the Capitol Police and the Department of Justice; no charges were filed against the officer involved. Babbitt’s death became a focal point for supporters and opponents of the security response.
In all, about 138 law enforcement officers were injured while defending the Capitol; several officers suffered serious injuries. Dozens of rioters were arrested that day, with many charged with offenses related to the breach. The crowd also damaged property and disrupted Congress’s work.
In the following days, leaders faced sharp criticism of the security failures. Questions centered on why the Capitol was so poorly prepared, why intelligence was not acted on more aggressively, and why the National Guard was not deployed sooner. Several officials resigned or were pressured to resign:
- Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund resigned on January 8, 2021.
- The House Sergeant at Arms and the Senate Sergeant at Arms also stepped down or were asked to resign.
- The acting Capitol Police chief, Yogananda Pittman, later faced questions and changes within the department.
Investigations and reforms followed. Congress held hearings and issued reports highlighting gaps in intelligence, planning, and coordination among Capitol Police, federal agencies, and the National Guard. In December 2021, Congress passed the Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act, which gave the Capitol Police chief clearer authority to request National Guard assistance without needing a separate formal approval from the Capitol Police Board, aiming to speed up responses to emergencies.
Public and political reactions included comparisons between the Capitol security response and how other protests were policed, with critics arguing that force and response varied by event and sometimes along racial lines. The discussion helped push the Capitol Police to reform and adopt stronger, more proactive protection plans, including better intelligence sharing, rapid coordination with federal and local partners, and faster access to National Guard resources in future emergencies.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:51 (CET).