Photos show ramped-up troops and barriers locking down Washington, DC, ahead of Biden's inauguration

national guard — National Guard Citizen-soldiers stand guard downtown on January 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Local and federal officials in the city of Washington, DC, are on high alert ahead of this week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Fears stem following the deadly insurrection earlier this month at the US Capitol led by supporters of President Donald Trump.
From non-scalable fencing around the US Capitol to the closure of the National Mall and streets in downtown DC, photos show the unprecedented measures officials are taking to ensure the presidential transition occurs smoothly.
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Local and federal officials in Washington, DC, are taking unprecedented security measures ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

While much of the ceremony was already planned to be virtual due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the armed and deadly insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6 has prompted increased measures, including the deployment of more than 20,000 members of the National Guard to the nation’s capital. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser bluntly requested that people stay out of the city during the inauguration.

At least five people died as a result of the January 6 insurrection, which was led by supporters of President Donald Trump who believed his baseless conspiracy theory that his loss in the election was the result of widespread voter fraud. There is no evidence to support such a theory.

From the additional troops to the closure of streets in downtown DC, photos show how leaders in Washington are preparing for the swearing-in of the new administration later this week.

At a press conference with DC and federal officials Friday, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced new security measures, saying the city found itself in “uncharted waters.”

Source: PBS

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned of armed protests in DC and in state capitols across the US this week, promoting heightened security nationwide.

Source: Insider

In a briefing with Vice President Mike Pence last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the agency saw an “extensive amount of concerning online chatter” leading to the enhanced security.

washington dc — A Secret Service tent in downtown DC on January 16, 2021.

Andrew Lichtenstein/Insider

Source: FBI

On January 13, Bowser requested that a National Special Security Event be declared earlier than is typical for a presidential inauguration.

Source: PBS

Following the January 6 insurrection, a seven-foot, non-scalable fence was added around the Capitol Hill complex. Barbed wire sits atop the fence, providing an additional barrier to entry to the grounds.

Security fencing runs down a street near the U.S. Capitol building, with the Washington Monument at top, on January 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Eric Thayer/Getty Images

Over 20,000 troops in total will be deployed in the nation’s capital for the January 20 inauguration. That’s more than the number of troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

Source: USA Today

Road traffic in much of Washington has been halted as officials made the unprecedented move to close streets through Thursday. Four major bridges between Virginia and DC will also be closed to all traffic for 48 hours.

Source: The Washington Post, Reuters

The closures are centered around downtown DC and around Capitol Hill, the Lincoln Memorial, Union Station, the National Mall, and the White House.

Source: The Washington Post

Parts of Washington looked like a war zone days before the inauguration as members of the National Guard patrolled the city in Humvees.

Nation Guardsmen in a Humvee drive through the intersection of 15th street NW and L street NW on January 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

On Friday, the National Park Service closed the National Mall and other US landmarks in DC to visitors through at least January 21. During typical years, onlookers gather on the National Mall to watch a new president be inaugurated.

Source: Reuters

Much of the inauguration was already expected to be held virtually due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, but the insurrection prompted heightened security in DC. A rehearsal was pushed from Sunday to Monday, and Biden’s planned Amtrak ride from Delaware was canceled.

President-elect Biden plans to be sworn in on the steps of the Capitol, as is customary. US flags can be seen hanging from the building ahead of Biden’s swearing-in.

Source: Politico

Airbnb canceled and blocked all Washington, DC, reservations during the week of the inauguration in an effort to discourage people from traveling there for the inauguration.