Trump Administration Proposes Permanent White House Perimeter Fencing

The White House and United States Secret Service are proposing the installation of permanent eight-to-10-foot security fencing along Pennsylvania Avenue and around Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. The plan, developed with the Department of the Interior and National Park Service, aims to allow faster park closures during threats and reduce the recurring costs and staffing required for temporary barriers. The proposal follows several assassination attempts against Donald Trump, including a shooting near the 17th Street entrance in May and an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

While officials state the design will preserve public views, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia's delegate to Congress, introduced a bill to prohibit the fencing, calling the move security theater. The project awaits final approval from the president, with potential phased construction beginning in 2027.

Simultaneously, the White House is upgrading security on the North Portico doors, a project expected to finish in mid-September. These upgrades, which involve scaffolding and tarps to hide the work, coincide with standard stone repair of the 200-year-old columns. This effort is part of a broader series of renovations under the current administration, including the installation of a new South Lawn helipad for VH-92A Patriot helicopters and the demolition of the East Wing to make room for a new ballroom and bunker.