The Secret Service and other agencies, including DC and US Capitol Police, are currently reassessing security plans for the upcoming presidential inauguration after the decision to move the event indoors. This sudden change has prompted a swift response from law enforcement officials, who now have just three days to devise a new security strategy that typically takes months to plan.
Preparations for the inauguration have been in progress since early 2024, with the event designated as a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. This classification triggers a comprehensive federal approach to security measures.
The inauguration, which was initially expected to draw hundreds of thousands of ticketed guests, was also set to involve approximately 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel. In anticipation of the outdoor event, over 30 miles of fencing had been erected to guide crowds through security checkpoints along the planned parade route from the Capitol to the White House.
Secret Service agents had been conducting security drills along the parade route, practicing maneuvers to ensure the safety of the president. However, with the shift to an indoor ceremony, these elaborate plans now appear to be obsolete.
