Capitol Police Chief Calls for Permanent Security Fencing to Protect Congress

By Staff, Agencies

The US Capitol Police called for permanent fencing and other beefed-up security measures in the wake of the January 6 riot, raising concerns the move will wall off the government from the American people.

“In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol,” acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said on Thursday.

Her statement comes amid security reviews following the January 6 riot, when supporters of President Donald Trump breached the Capitol. Five deaths were attributed to the unrest, which the Democrats have described as an “insurrection.”

More than 25,000 National Guard troops were summoned to Washington for President Joe Biden's January 20 inauguration, and non-scalable fencing was erected around the Capitol. Checkpoints also were set up, helping to seal off the government district like Baghdad's Green Zone.

A week after the inauguration, about 15,000 Guardsmen remained in the city. The National Guard said 7,000 troops will still be deployed in Washington in the coming weeks, with the force expected to be drawn down to 5,600 by mid-March.

Pittman admitted in House testimony on Tuesday that police knew of the strong potential for violent protest on January 6 and weren't adequately prepared. On Thursday, she said that experts going back at least as far as 2001 have called for increased security around the Capitol.

The perspective of fortified structures becoming a permanent fixture of Washington, DC, landscape, however, did not sit well with many, drawing bipartisan pushback.