Republicans say Interior Department refused request for more police for anti-Israel protests

The Department of the Interior refused Wednesday to provide reinforcements for U.S. Park Police officers as anti-Israel protesters ran amok through Washington, congressional Republicans charged.

Protesters toppled American flags and sprayed pro-Hamas messages on monuments outside Union Station, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. That area is controlled by the National Park Service, which is part of the Interior Department.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, demanded the department explain why it allowed the protesters to “run wild.”

“It has come to my attention that, despite specific requests by the USPP for additional resources, the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Park Service (NPS) failed to provide adequate additional support for the USPP, such as providing additional law enforcement units from within DOI to enhance USPP’s presence within the National Capital Region,” the Arkansas Republican wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

The National Park Service refuted Mr. Westerman’s claim in a statement, saying “no resource requests were declined by NPS or Interior leaders.”

But the Park Police Fraternal Order of Police said they were set up for failure.

FOP Chairman Kenneth Spencer said they had just 29 officers to manage a crowd of thousands of protesters, “with no additional help from the Department of the Interior.”

“A small unit of 29 officers arrested 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands,” he said. “We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.”

Video posted online showed protesters assaulting Park Police officers trying to make arrests.

On social media, the Park Police said it revoked the permit for use of Columbus Circle and ordered people to leave.

“A crowd in Columbus Circle is engaged in criminal activity and confronting law enforcement on scene. USPP is attempting to deescalate and contact the event organizer for help,” the law enforcement agency said Wednesday afternoon.

Protesters lowered American flags and replaced them with Palestinian banners. Photos showed the main monument in Columbus Circle was defaced with graffiti expressing support for Hamas, the terrorist organization that began the war with Israel with its murderous Oct. 7 sneak attack.

Mr. Netanyahu’s government has led a massive invasion of the Gaza Strip in retaliation.

The Israeli prime minister was addressing Congress on Wednesday.

The U.S. Capitol Police reinforced its defenses to prevent the protesters from mayhem on Capitol grounds.

“Part of the crowd has started to become violent at First Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. The crowd failed to obey our order to move back from our police line,” Capitol Police posted on social media. “We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line.”