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The force is lacking manpower to cover daily shifts.
Protecting the people who run a country is a high-pressure job that never truly stops.
The daily grind pushes security teams to their absolute limits.
Now, US leaders are trying to change the rules to keep their best guards on duty.
Pushing the limit
The Associated Press and The Washington Post report that US lawmakers want to raise the retirement age for Capitol Police officers. The department simply lacks enough staff to manage its workload.
The Senate recently approved a plan to let officers work until they turn 62. A separate House bill pushes that number to 65.
Currently, officers face mandatory retirement at age 57, or after 20 years on the job. They can apply for special waivers to remain until age 60.
Nearly 60 officers already use those waivers to keep working.
Struggling to stay
Keeping seasoned veterans is crucial right now. Chief Michael Sullivan told Congress that personnel shortages “span all operational units.”
Roughly 300 veteran officers could leave immediately. Sullivan warned lawmakers that a sudden mass departure would severely damage the force.
“We have 300 officers right now that could say, ‘I’m done, I’m ready to walk away,’” Sullivan said according to AP. “That would be catastrophic for us.”
Republican Representative Bryan Steil agrees with the chief. “No officer should be forced to retire when they can still do the job,” he told his committee.
Rising danger
The push for older guards comes at a dangerous time. Threats against politicians have risen sharply in recent years.
Capitol Police investigated roughly 15,000 threats in 2025. That marks a 58 percent increase from the previous year, and Sullivan expects 2026 numbers to climb even higher.
The force employs around 1,250 uniformed officers, but it desperately needs another 150 to cover daily shifts.
Sources: Associated Press, The Washington Post, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Congress, House Administration Committee
