The New York National Guard is sending 1,000 troops to Washington, D.C., at the request of U.S. National Guard officials, said a New York Guard spokesman and Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday evening. <\/b>The New York Guard spokesperson explained that the troops were part of a larger, pre-planned effort including several other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[We\u2019re] part of a larger package by the National Guard Bureau for the inaugural support mission,\u201d said New York National Guard spokesman Army Col. Richard Goldenberg. \u201cIt\u2019s not like we weren\u2019t expecting and planning and preparing for inaugural support for 2021.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NGB and D.C. National Guard officials did not immediately respond to questions from Military Times for more information about the inaugural support mission, including other participating states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goldenberg indicated in a phone interview with Military Times that the troops would take some time to mobilize and arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a National Guard force, it does take us a little bit of time to alert and mobilize these forces to have them come in, and to have them muster, and to have them board buses and head on down,\u201d he said. \u201cWe do expect them down there before early next week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[Guardsmen] who normally support and traditionally have supported the inaugural presidential elections every four years have traditionally show up about a week to 10 days probably in advance of the actual ceremony,\u201d explained Goldenberg. \u201cIn this case we\u2019re probably going to get there a little bit even before that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President-elect Joseph Biden will take the oath of office on Jan. 20 on the Capitol steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n