An official plaque authorized by Congress to honor law enforcement officers who responded to the January 6, 2021, event at the U.S. Capitol has not been publicly displayed, approaching the fifth anniversary of the incident. Its current location is not publicly known but is believed to be in storage. This situation has led to legal action by officers, alternative commemoration efforts by some members of Congress, and recent action by the Senate.
Plaque Authorization and Undisplayed Status
The plaque was approved by Congress in March 2022 as part of a government funding package. The resolution mandated the display of an honorific plaque listing the names of officers who responded, setting a one-year deadline for its installation at the Capitol. The intended location was near the Capitol's west front, a primary site of confrontation during the events.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has not formally unveiled the plaque. His office has stated that the statute authorizing the plaque is "not implementable" and that proposed alternatives also "do not comply." A spokesman for the Speaker suggested that collaboration with appropriate committees would be needed to develop a framework for vetting and consideration if Democrats intend to commemorate law enforcement. Senator Thom Tillis also noted a "technical implementation problem," indicating concerns that the plaque lists law enforcement agencies rather than individual officers, with plans for a digital component, likely a website, to list all involved officers. The plaque is legally required to include the names of approximately 3,600 law enforcement officers involved in the response.
Recent Senate Action
On Thursday, the Senate approved the temporary display of the plaque. This decision, which followed brief debate, occurred despite Speaker Johnson's assertion that the memorial does not comply with existing law. The new Senate resolution directs the Architect of the Capitol to "prominently display" the plaque in a "publicly accessible" location within the Senate wing until its permanent placement can be arranged, which would require agreement with the House. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) advocated for its installation.
Legal Proceedings
In the summer following the plaque's approval, two officers involved in the response, Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges, filed a lawsuit concerning the delay. Their claim asserted that the refusal to display the plaque encourages a "rewriting of history" and "suggests that the officers are not worthy of being recognized."
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to dismiss this case. Arguments presented by the department contend that Congress has "already publicly recognized the service of law enforcement personnel" through the plaque's approval, and its physical display would not resolve issues cited by the officers, such as alleged threats. The Architect of the Capitol, responsible for the plaque's acquisition and display, has declined to comment due to ongoing federal litigation.
Congressional Responses and Commemoration
In response to the plaque's absence, approximately 100 members of Congress, predominantly Democrats, have placed poster-board replicas of the plaque outside their office doors within the Capitol complex. These replicas bear the inscription: “On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on Jan. 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten.”
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), both former members of the Jan. 6 committee, have emphasized the importance of public awareness and historical study of the event. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), involved in the replica plaque effort, stated that the presence of multiple makeshift plaques serves as a testimony to ongoing remembrance.
The January 6, 2021, Capitol Event
The event involved supporters of then-President Donald Trump who breached the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results.
- At least five individuals died in connection with the event and its aftermath, including Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police.
- Over 140 law enforcement officers sustained injuries, and several later died, some by suicide.
- Approximately 1,500 individuals faced charges related to the Capitol event, constituting one of the largest federal prosecutions in U.S. history.
- Former President Trump, upon returning to power in January 2025, pardoned all individuals charged in connection with the Capitol attack within hours of taking office.
Differing Interpretations and Ongoing Divisions
Public perspectives on the January 6 event have varied. Five years prior, the scene was described as an “insurrection” by the then-GOP Senate leader, and the then-House GOP leader referred to it as his “saddest day” in Congress. Donald Trump has since characterized the day as a “day of love.” Historian Douglas Brinkley has noted a lack of consensus regarding how January 6 will be viewed in the context of 21st-century U.S. history, questioning whether it will be seen as a "seminal moment when democracy was in peril" or a "weird one-off."
Bipartisan memorial services for January 6 are no longer held. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced that Democrats would reconvene members of the Jan. 6 committee for a hearing focused on election threats. Republicans, under Speaker Johnson, have established a separate committee led by Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) to investigate what they term the “full truth” of the events, with a hearing scheduled for the current month.