Site icon The Capitolist

Gov. DeSantis orders Florida National Guard troops home from ‘half-cocked mission’

Jordan Kirkland

Gov. Ron DeSantis (right), commander in chief of the Florida National Guard, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, outgoing adjutant general of Florida, Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert, incoming adjutant general of Florida, and Col. Gregory Cardenoas stand atop a Humvee to inspect the troops during a change of command ceremony at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center on April 6. During the ceremony Eifert assumed command from Calhoun, who retired after 36 years of service (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. William Buchanan)

Governor Ron DeSantis is bringing Florida National Guard troops home after thousands were forced to vacate the Capitol building.

Late Thursday, the Governor ordered the soldiers home in response to nearly 25,000 National Guard troops, who protected the Capitol during President Joe Biden‘s inauguration, being banished out of the building and stuffed into parking garages. National Guard soldiers were reportedly told by officials they could not rest in the U.S. Capitol Complex, including places like the cafeteria of a Senate office building — despite the areas being designated as authorized rest areas.

“Last night, I ordered our Adjutant General to bring Florida National Guard soldiers home from the National Capital Region,” DeSantis announced on Twitter early Friday morning.

The announcement comes as POLITICO and the Washington Post reported that thousands of National Guard troops were removed from congressional office buildings at the Capitol and told to rest in a nearby garage with insufficient seating, limited bathrooms, and only one electrical outlet.

Photos of the troops sparked outrage from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with many tweeting their concerns over the situation. The pictures and subsequent call for answers from legislators resulted in the guardsmen being let back into facilities.

Despite officials attempting to remedy the situation, DeSantis swiftly made the decision to bring Florida’s finest home, condemning their mistreatment and labeling it a “half-cocked mission” that no longer served a purpose.

“They’re soldiers, they’re not Nacy Pelosi‘s servants,” DeSantis told Fox and Friends Friday morning. “This is a half-cocked mission at this point and the appropriate thing is to bring them home.”

DeSantis’ decision comes days after thousands of National Guard troops, many from the Sunshine State, were called to DC from all 50 states because of heightened security concerns around President Biden’s inauguration.