National Guard members standing duty at the U.S. Capitol Monday still don’t know when they can go home as 5,000 are expected to remain on duty into the spring.

On a 36-degree, overcast Washington morning, some of the 13,700 Guard members in the capital huddled together near seven-foot perimeter fences. They wore black caps on their heads, some wore gloves, others hopped or stretched, and most had their hands tucked into their vests, breath visible as they spoke.