Report: More than $30 million needed for repairs, security at Capitol as a result of assault

Bret Gibson
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 10:23 p.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 10:23 p.m.

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AP

A workman walks through the Rotunda after cleaning debris outside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress, at the Capitol in Washington.

AP

An ATF police officer cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021 after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington.

The cost of cleaning broken glass, doors and artwork along with the added security from the events that occurred on Jan. 6 have topped $30 million and require more funding, Capitol staffers told lawmakers on Wednesday.

NPR reported lawmakers have already said they would allocate the budget necessary for the cleaning process, which left broken glass and doors, graffiti and more, but one staffer says the cost will be much more.

The cost of repairing damages from the attack on the U.S. Capitol and related security expenses have already topped $30M and will keep rising, Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton told lawmakers. https://t.co/Gy8dWGuFnC

— WITF news (@witfnews) February 25, 2021

“Statues, murals, historic benches and original shutters all suffered varying degrees of damage, primarily from pepper spray accretions and residue from chemical irritants and fire extinguishers,” Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton said in prepared testimony at a House Appropriations Committee Hearing. “This damage to our precious artwork and statues will require expert cleaning and conservation.”

Blanton said congressional appropriations committees have already approved a transfer request to pay for expenses that includes the cost of the fencing through March 4, but Blanton says his office needs to renew contracts to continue the fencing past March 31.

“History teaches us that project costs for replacements and repairs beyond in-kind improvements across campus will be considerable and beyond the scope of the current budgetary environment,” Blanton said.