JAN 17, 2:55 PM

Do National Guard Troops Need All Those Food Donations?

Jacob Fenston | https://twitter.com/JacobFenston

The photos went viral: National Guard troops hunkered down on the floor of the U.S. Capitol, surrounded by symbols of democracy as well as camouflaged gear and guns, chowing down on donated pizza. ... Micheline Mendelsohn, one of the owners of Capitol Hill pizzeria We, The Pizza, says it started when a member of Congress put in an order for 25 pizzas for troops on Jan. 13. The restaurant matched the order, donating 25 more pies. But Mendelsohn says when she saw photos of troops in the Capitol, “I said to my manager, Rob, you know, 50 pizzas, that’s nothing. Just go ahead and send them 100.”

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But it all raised a question: do the hired troops being paid to protect the Capitol actually … need all those donations? Some on social media criticized the effort to feed already-well-fed troops, when so many in the city are in need during the pandemic.

Shortly after photos of troops sleeping on the ground and eating donated pizza hit Twitter, the guard published a story on its website on Jan 16., titled, “National Guard members getting the support they need in DC.”

Troops in District “are receiving proper lodging when off duty and three meals a day,” according to National Guard officials quoted in the story. In fact, the D.C. Army National Guard is providing 18,000 meals a day and counting.

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