Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland, calling on her to immediately provide U.S. Park Police (USPP) with essential resources to address destructive and violent protest activities on the National Mall, Columbus Circle and other National Park Service (NPS) property in the D.C. area. Hamas-sympathetic protestors vandalized many of these sites today in conjunction with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress. USPP requested additional resources from DOI and NPS leadership several days ago in anticipation of violent protests, but to no avail. In part, Westerman wrote:

"While USPP and other law enforcement officers protect our nation’s historical monuments and most treasured spaces around the National Capital Region, protestors have run wild, destroying federal property, burning American flags, and raising Palestinian flags. These actions can be directly correlated to the failure of DOI leadership to provide adequate staffing and support to the USPP.

"I call on you to immediately address the USPP’s requests and provide additional officers and support for the USPP in the Washington, D.C. area."

Read the full letter here.