Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, is frustrated by the delay in installing a plaque to honor police officers who saved the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack. Despite a law requiring the plaque to be completed and installed by March 2023, it has not been done. Lofgren, along with other House Democrats, has raised concerns about the delay and is questioning why the plaque has not been completed as mandated by law.
The plaque, which is supposed to list the names of officers who served on January 6, was required to be placed on the western front of the Capitol building, where some of the most violent attacks against officers occurred. However, a CBS News review of the situation found unclear responses from House leadership and suggested that the delay may be linked to the toxic politics of 2024 and the ongoing fight over election denialism that arose after President Biden won the 2020 election. Lofgren, who served on the House Select Jan. 6 committee, emphasized the importance of honoring the officers who risked their lives to save lawmakers and staff during the attack.
Despite Democrats on the relevant congressional committees completing their work in compiling the list of officers’ names, Republicans on a House Appropriations subcommittee have declined to answer questions about the progress of the plaque. Instead, they referred CBS News to the Speaker’s office. However, the Speaker’s office did not provide any information on the progress of the plaque or an explanation for the delay. Lofgren and other Democrats believe that the installation of the plaque is long overdue and that not complying with the law is disrespectful to the officers who saved lives.
The legislation mandating the creation and installation of the plaque required several congressional committees to compile the list of names of all the officers who responded to the January 6 violence. While Democrats have fulfilled their obligations in composing the list, the delay in completing the plaque remains a point of contention. The failure to install the plaque as required by law is seen as a disrespect to the officers who risked their lives to protect the Capitol and its occupants during the attack. Lofgren and her colleagues are adamant about ensuring that the plaque is completed and installed in a timely manner to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the officers.
In a Congress often marked by gridlock and sluggishness in legislative work, the delay in installing the plaque honoring the officers who saved the Capitol stands out as a particularly egregious oversight. Lofgren’s frustration with the lack of progress on this issue reflects a broader concern about the importance of honoring those who risked their lives to protect lawmakers and staff during a violent attack. As the dispute over the plaque continues, it remains to be seen whether the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the officers are properly recognized for their bravery and sacrifice.
