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The Army has ordered a preliminary inquiry into reports that National Guard soldiers and airmen providing security at the U.S. Capitol received poorly prepared or tainted meals from a contract vendor, according to published reports.
Acting Secretary of the Army John E. Whitley last week directed Maj. Gen. William Walker, the commander of the District of Columbia Guard, to conduct the preliminary inquiry, said Lt. Col. Robert Carver, a spokesman for the Joint Task Force at the Capitol.
The purposes of a preliminary inquiry could include determining the scope of the problem, identifying and interviewing witnesses, and determining whether a more extensive investigation is warranted, he said.
Guard officials have said at least 50 troops were sickened with gastrointestinal illnesses after complaints that they were served undercooked or poor quality food by the contractor.
None of those sickened have been hospitalized due to illness from the food since the security mission began; however, some have been treated at hospitals, a Guard spokesman said.
About 5,200 Guardsmen are serving at or near the Capitol to help local and federal law enforcement with security in the wake of the deadly attack on the building Jan. 6.
Troops from Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New York — four states with large contributions to the mission —have complained since mid-February about the food.
Several lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have called on the Guard to cancel the $11.4 million contract with Sardi's Catering in College Park, Maryland, the vendor providing meals to the troops three times a day.
But the National Guard Bureau said it is continuing with the current food service contract. A spokesman said the problem is not systemic and limited to a small fraction of over 1.2 million meals served since Jan. 6.
Sardi's has defended its food service. The company said Guard inspectors visit the vendor's facilities and kitchens to conduct spot checks and ensure safe and sanitary food preparation and packaging in compliance with federal regulations.
Meanwhile, 41 members of the House sent a letter Monday to Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams of Virginia, the president of the Adjutants General Association, encouraging local commanders to allow Guardsmen deployed to the nation’s capital to be reimbursed for missed meals.
“The logistical feat of moving, housing and feeding nearly 27,000 Citizen Airmen and Soldiers at the peak of the civil disturbance mission in D.C. was enormous, and the National Guard unequivocally tackled the challenge,” they wrote. “However, we have concerns that, due to the enormity of the task and the speed at which the National Guard was deployed, some Guard members may have lacked adequate access to meals.
“Specifically, contract food services were used in lieu of per diem allotments for meals. We are not questioning this choice; providing contract food service was the only realistic solution to feed such a large and geographically dispersed force. However, some National Guard members faced significant delays in receiving meals or served on shifts that did not align with the appropriate meal type or time. In these instances, many Soldiers and Airmen chose instead to purchase food at their own expense here in Washington, D.C.”
Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.; Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.; Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss. and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio produced the letter and circulated it for signatures.
Palazzo and Ryan are co-chairs of the House National Guard and Reserve Caucus. Kinzinger and Palazzo are drilling members of the Guard.
