Congressional aides and visitors to the House side of the Capitol will face arrest if they're not wearing masks, the head of the U.S. Capitol Police announced this week.
In a Wednesday letter to his officer corps, Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger ordered that they enforce the new mask guidelines across the Capitol complex. Those new rules, installed by the Capitol physician earlier in the week, include a mask mandate on the House side of the Capitol and all House office buildings.
The new policy has been hammered by House Republicans, who say it's merely an effort by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to exert control over half of the Capitol. Still, she has law enforcement now on her side.
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Red Blue Translator
Social Justice
Headline Roundup
Could There Be More Behind Jensen Huang's Resignation Than Extramarital Affairs?
November 15th, 2026
Headline Roundup
Trump, Putin and Xi Plan Historic Three-Way Summit in China
November 14th, 2026
The Insight
Is America’s homelessness crisis improving?
AllSides Staff
November 13th, 2026