Plaque Honoring Jan. 6 Officers Installed at U.S. Capitol
A plaque honoring officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 was installed on the Senate side after a yearslong delay and amid a lawsuit over compliance with a 2022 law.
MEDIAiteJan 6 Plaque Honoring Police Who Defended The Capitol Finally Installed Under Cover of Night
CBS NewsJan. 6 plaque honoring police officers displayed at the Capitol after a 3-year delay: "Their heroism will never be forgotten"
NBC NewsJan. 6 plaque installed at U.S. Capitol following yearslong delay
ABC NewsJan. 6 plaque honoring police installed at Capitol after 3-year delay
Overview
Workers installed a plaque honoring officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 on the Senate side, and a reporter saw the installation about 4 a.m. EST Saturday.
Congress passed a 2022 law requiring an honorific plaque with a one-year deadline, but delays and House Speaker Mike Johnson's objections led the Senate in January to unanimously direct installation on the Senate side.
Officer Daniel Hodges said the installation is a "fine stopgap" but vowed the lawsuit would continue, and the Justice Department has sought to have the case dismissed.
The siege injured roughly 140 to 150 officers, resulted in more than 1,500 people being charged, and saw President Donald Trump pardon roughly 1,500 defendants after returning to office in January 2025.
Plaintiffs say the 2022 statute required the plaque "on" the west front and listing officers' names, the new installation includes a nearby sign with a QR code to a 45-page roster, and the lawsuit remains pending.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the installation as overdue recognition of heroic officers, using decisive language ('violent attack,' 'mob of rioters') and prioritizing accounts from lawmakers and injured officers while noting delay by Republican leadership and Trump's downplaying. Editorial choices emphasize institutional duty and legal remedy over partisan defenses, with selective emphasis on delay and lawsuit.
FAQ
The 2022 law requires an honorific plaque to be installed on the west front of the Capitol listing the names of officers who defended it on Jan. 6, 2021, with a one-year deadline.