This Won’t Be an Ordinary Inauguration Day
Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20 will be unlike anything else in modern memory. After the attack on the US Capitol by a brutal mob of supporters of the current president, authorities across the country fear further attacks not only in Washington, DC, but in all capitals of all 50 states. The threat of further violence threatens to spoil the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election brought Joe Biden a victory – results that the president and minority Republicans have falsely contested for months.
With the threat of armed violence looming over the hearings, you can look forward to increased security not only on the steps of the US Capitol, but throughout the country as we try to keep the mechanisms of democracy in motion.
Expect a paramilitary presence in Washington DC
In a security briefing with Vice President Mike Pence, FBI Director Christopher Ray recently warned of “a lot of online chatter … a number of inaugural events,” with the agency contacted all governments in all 50 states about the possibility of armed protests on January 20.
With a poorly prepared law enforcement response to last Wednesday’s siege of the Capitol, federal officials want to be more prudent about next week’s event so as not to be stranded by any potential disruptions.
According to Politico , Biden was informed Wednesday of the potential for violence by the FBI, the Secret Service and other national security personnel. NPR reports that 21,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to DC to defend the inauguration, while about 4,000 police officers have been mobilized from across the country to increase the presence of the Metropolitan DC Police Force. The Secret Service monitors the security of the inauguration.
You can count on a heavily fortified capital and a ceremony marked by much more vigilance and security than is usually required. Government houses across the country are also expected to step up their security efforts.
Certain changes have already been made
Joe Biden originally planned to play a token game of his love for American infrastructure ahead of the ceremony, traveling on Monday by Amtrak from Wilmington, Delaware, to DC. This plan has been canceled due to security threats in addition to the scheduled inauguration rehearsal originally scheduled for this Sunday.
Rehearsal is scheduled for Monday, with appropriate security settings. Although security officials and the president’s inauguration committee declined to comment on the threats of violence, Biden said earlier this week that he was “not afraid” to take the oath of office in the traditional format.
There can also be a bit of spookiness in the air on Inauguration Day, as DC streets are likely to be less crowded than usual during the event. The city has imposed travel restrictions that include the closure of 13 train stations in the vicinity of the ceremony from Friday to Sunday.
As NPR explains:
The metro closes 13 train stations inside the security perimeter upon opening, 11 stations close on Friday, and two additional stations close Saturday through the following Thursday. Trains will bypass these closed stations non-stop.
Airlines also comply with government regulations. Delta, American, Southwest, United and Alaska will not allow passengers bound for Washington airports to bring weapons with checked baggage during the opening week, according to an NPR report.
The National Mall, which is usually awash with revelers and supporters of the new president, will be closed for the inauguration, according to CNN . The mall will be pretty barren, according to a CNN spokesman.
As the network reports:
There will be no large screens, no toilets, no panels for people to stand on, and that the public will not be able to enter the mall, where thousands of people traditionally gather to watch the new president be sworn in.
The Secret Service is expected to make an announcement on when the closure begins.
Congress calls on travel companies to mitigate threats
On Friday, the House Oversight and Reform Committee sent a letter to 27 major travel companies asking them to “implement plans to suppress potential insurgents ahead of the inauguration,” Politico’s Kyle Cheney said . These include mainly car rental companies, bus companies and hotels, and were asked in the letter to “help identify and prevent the ongoing and dire threat of further violent attacks in Washington DC . “
Airbnb, for its part, has already canceled all bookings in the country’s capital for the opening week.