The union for the U.S. Capitol Police plans to hold a vote of no confidence on April 22 for two House side leaders over what they called job conditions that have exhausted officers working on that side of the complex.
The vote targets House Division Inspector Brian Verderese and Captain Aaron Robinson. The union said officers have been facing worsening working conditions since the January 6 attack on the Capitol, with members reporting they are being asked to work six-day weeks and double shifts while facing leave restrictions throughout the year.
"The House Division officers along with the Union are frustrated. We have officers working 6 days a week, pulling double shifts and unable to take leave because of leave restrictions throughout the year," union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou said in a release.
Papathanasiou said the department has attempted to fire officers who made mistakes and impose deployment changes that will only lead to more officers leaving. He said the union wants to see more hiring and changes to what he called deficiencies in the retirement system that make the force less competitive with other federal law enforcement agencies.
USCP declined to comment ahead of the vote. The department has been operating with a new chief, Michael Sullivan, since the beginning of the year.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and labor advocates have long supported Capitol Police officers in their demands for better working conditions. Democratic members of Congress have previously expressed concern about staffing levels and the treatment of rank-and-file officers, particularly after the January 6 attack.
Union leaders argue that the department's leadership has failed to learn from the lessons of January 6, when officers were overwhelmed by the mob. Papathanasiou said the department has not improved its treatment of officers and that conditions have gotten worse rather than better.
The union's position aligns with calls from Democratic lawmakers for adequate staffing and resources for the Capitol Police force, which has seen an increase in duties following January 6 and ongoing security threats against members of Congress.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative lawmakers and some former law enforcement officials have emphasized the importance of maintaining strong leadership at the Capitol Police, particularly in the wake of the January 6 attack. Critics have argued that constant leadership turnover and second-guessing of officers could undermine morale and operational effectiveness.
Some Republican members have defended the department's efforts to improve training and accountability following January 6, saying that addressing mistakes through disciplinary measures is necessary for maintaining professionalism. The department's request for a budget over $1 billion, citing growing violent threats against lawmakers, has received bipartisan support.
Republican lawmakers have also noted the importance of ensuring that Capitol Police officers are held to high standards, particularly as the force deals with an increasingly volatile political environment. They argue that addressing performance issues is part of maintaining public trust in the force.
What the Numbers Show
The Capitol Police union is calling for more officers to be hired amid what it describes as a staffing crisis. The department has requested a budget of over $1 billion for the first time, citing growing violent threats against members of Congress.
Officers report working six-day weeks with double shifts, a significant increase from standard scheduling. The union says leave restrictions have been in place throughout the year, preventing officers from taking time off.
This is not the first no confidence vote the union has held. Following the January 6 attack, the union voted no confidence in then acting Chief Yogananda Pittman and other top leaders. The department has since hired a new chief, Michael Sullivan.
The budget request reflects the expanded mission of the Capitol Police since January 6, including increased security around the Capitol complex and protection details for all 535 members of Congress.
The Bottom Line
The April 22 no confidence vote highlights ongoing tensions between Capitol Police leadership and rank-and-file officers nearly five years after the January 6 attack. The union says working conditions have worsened, with staffing shortages forcing officers to work excessive hours.
The vote against House Division Inspector Brian Verderese and Captain Aaron Robinson comes as the department operates under a new chief. The union is pushing for more hiring and changes to the retirement system to make the force more competitive with other federal law enforcement agencies.
USCP has declined to comment ahead of the vote. The department's $1 billion budget request reflects the growing threats facing lawmakers, a concern that has received bipartisan support. The outcome of the vote could influence future leadership decisions and staffing policies at the Capitol Police.