Outer fencing around the Capitol has been removed after months of tight security measures following the Jan. 6 riot.
The innermost perimeter still remained as of Sunday, but pedestrians now have the ability to walk closer to the iconic building after weeks of being barred from the grounds, street, and sidewalks.
The Scene in DC:
2+ months after the Capitol insurrection, the fencing began coming down overnight. For now, the inner-most perimeter immediately around the Capitol remains. But on this Sunday, folks are taking advantage of their open streets & sidewalks again. pic.twitter.com/WFzSNdfw5i
— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) March 21, 2021
Earlier in the week, acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy Blodgett announced that some of the perimeter was set to be removed after there was “no known credible threat against Congress or the Capitol Complex that warrants the temporary security fencing.” Blodgett said Capitol officials “will move the fence closer to the Capitol building,” beginning this week, and will leave in place “the inner perimeter fencing” around the Capitol and office buildings.
SOME FENCING AROUND THE CAPITOL WILL BE REDUCED
The sergeant-at-arms also indicated that National Guard troops, many of whom have been present in the area since days after the Capitol siege, “will begin to reduce” their “posture,” although they are slated to stay in Washington, D.C., for at least the next two months. Two days after the unrest, which saw at least five deaths, the fencing was erected for the first time. It has remained ever since.
The militarized look of the Capitol drew scorn from several lawmakers, including Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, who said the fencing prevented visitors from entering the grounds.
“We haven’t had visitors, to my knowledge, in here. … No constituents can come and see us. No groups or organizations can come and see us. Nobody can sit in the gallery and watch us. They’re not having regular committee hearings. They’re cramming all this stuff through,” Biggs, the leader of the House Freedom Caucus, said.
In mid-March, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell likened the perimeter to an overreaction.
“I think we’re way overreacting to the current need,” the Kentucky Republican said. “I’m extremely uncomfortable with the fact that my constituents can’t come to the Capitol with all this razor wire around the complex. It reminds me of my last trip to Kabul [Afghanistan].
“I think we’ve overdone it,” McConnell continued. “It looks terrible to have the beacon of our democracy surrounded by razor wire and Guard troops.”
Top law enforcement authorities predicted March 4, known as “true Inauguration Day,” would be a vector for another assault on the Capitol. Additional personnel and blockades were dispatched to the area, but the intelligence amounted to a nothingburger, and no aggression or violence occurred.
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The U.S. Capitol Police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
