Capitol Displays Jan. 6 Plaque After 3-Year Delay

Plaque honors officers who defended the Capitol during the 2021 attack

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A plaque honoring the officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack has been installed at the Capitol, three years after it was required by law. The plaque, placed on the Senate side of the hallway, recognizes the "extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy." The installation comes after years of delays and a lawsuit from two officers who fought at the Capitol that day.

Why it matters

The Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was a violent attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and the officers who defended the building that day are seen as heroes by many. However, the delay in installing the plaque honoring them reflects the ongoing political divisions over the events of that day.

The details

Congress passed a law in 2022 requiring the installation of a plaque listing the names of officers who responded to the violence on Jan. 6, 2021. But the plaque was never put up, leading to frustration from Democrats and a lawsuit from two officers who fought at the Capitol that day. The plaque was finally installed in the early hours of Saturday morning, but it does not fully comply with the original law, which called for the plaque to be placed "on" the west front of the Capitol rather than nearby.

  • The plaque was installed around 4 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 10, 2026.
  • Congress passed a law in 2022 requiring the installation of the plaque within one year, but it was never put up.
  • The lawsuit from the two officers was filed after more than a year of silence from Congress on the missing plaque.

The players

Thom Tillis

A Republican senator from North Carolina who led the recent effort to install the plaque.

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the House who had previously delayed putting up the plaque.

Daniel Hodges

A Metropolitan Police Department officer who was crushed and beaten by rioters during the Jan. 6 attack and is continuing the lawsuit over the plaque.

Harry Dunn

A former U.S. Capitol Police officer who is also part of the lawsuit over the plaque.

Adriano Espaillat

The top Democratic member of the House committee that oversees the legislative branch, who said the Capitol Police "deserve more" recognition.

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What they’re saying

“We owe them eternal gratitude, and this nation is stronger because of them.”

— Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator (Senate floor remarks)

“The weight of a judicial ruling would help secure the memorial against future tampering.”

— Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department officer (Associated Press)

“Make no mistake: they did this at 4AM so no one would see, no ceremony, no real recognition.”

— Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (X (Twitter)

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by officers Hodges and Dunn will continue, as they argue the plaque installation does not fully comply with the original law.

The takeaway

The delayed and controversial installation of the Jan. 6 plaque at the Capitol reflects the ongoing political divisions over the events of that day and the continued struggle to properly recognize the officers who defended the building. While the plaque is now in place, its placement and the circumstances around it suggest the debate over how to memorialize the attack is far from over.