President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Baltimore on Friday to personally witness the federal response efforts and assess the damage caused by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. A White House official confirmed that President Biden will receive an aerial tour of the affected area.
The official statement released on Thursday night outlined President Biden's agenda for the visit. He will be briefed by the Unified Command, which includes the Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers, on their efforts to assist state officials in surveying and removing the wreckage from the channel. The primary goal is to expedite the reopening of the Port of Baltimore.
In addition to assessing the damage, President Biden will also meet with the families of the six construction workers who tragically lost their lives in the bridge collapse last week.
Joining President Biden during his visit will be Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Representative Kweisi Mfume, Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, US Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan, and Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, chief engineer of the Army Corps of Engineers.