US: Authorities deploying extremely tight security in Washington, DC, ahead of Jan. 20 presidential inauguration /update 1

Event

A major security operation continues throughout much of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area as authorities prepare for the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joseph Biden. Approximately 20,000 National Guard troops have been mobilized to support federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies within the nation's capital, as well as surrounding communities in the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia.

Authorities have established a security perimeter around the White House, with the area bounded by 14th Street, 19th Street, Constitution Avenue, and K Street being closed to the general public. The National Mall will also be closed to the general public Jan. 20; the Washington Monument will remain closed through Jan. 24. Other areas near the Capitol building and White House will likely be closed to pedestrian traffic.

Police have additionally closed the following roads through at least Jan. 20:

• 1st Street, from Constitution Avenue Northeast to Independence Avenue Southeast and from D Street Northwest to Louisiana Northwest

• 2nd Street Northwest, from C Street Northwest to Constitution Avenue Northwest

• 3rd Street Northwest, from H Street Northwest to Madison Drive Northwest

• 4th Street Northwest from H Street Northwest D Street Northwest and from Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest to Independence Avenue Southwest

• 5th Street Northwest, from H Street Northwest to D Street Northwest

• 6th Street Northwest, from G Street Northwest to Constitution Avenue Northwest

• 7th Street, from F Street Northwest to Independence Avenue, Southwest

• 8th Street Northwest, from F Street Northwest to D Street Northwest

• 9th Street, from F Street Northwest to Independence Avenue Southwest

• 10th Street Northwest, from F Street Northwest to Constitution Avenue Northwest

• 11th Street Northwest, from F Street Northwest to Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

• 12th Street, from K Street Northwest to D Street Southwest

• 13th Street, from K Street Northwest to Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, and from Madison Drive Northwest to Jefferson Drive Southwest

• 14th Street, from K Street Northwest to D Street Southwest

• 15th Street, from K Street Northwest to Madison Drive Northwest

• 16th Street Northwest, from K Street Northwest to H Street Northwest

• 17th Street, from K Street Northwest to Independence Avenue Southwest

• 18th Street Northwest, from K Street Northwest to Constitution Avenue Northwest

• 19th Street Northwest, from K Street Northwest to Constitution Avenue Northwest

• Arlington Memorial Bridge

• C Street Northwest, from 1st Street Northwest to 7th Street Northwest and from 17th Street Northwest to 19th Street Northwest

• C Street Southwest, from 12 Street Southwest to 14th Street Southwest

• Constitution Avenue, from Louisiana Avenue Northwest to 23rd Street Northwest

• D Street Northwest, from 18th Street Northwest to 17th Street Northwest, and from 9th Street Northwest to 1st Street Northwest

• D Street Southwest, from 14th Street Southwest to 12th Street Southwest and from Washington Avenue Southwest to 1st Street Southeast

• Street Northeast, from Second Street Northeast to 3rd Street Northeast

• E Street Tunnel

• E Street Northwest, from 3rd Street Northwest to 15th Street Northwest and from 17th Street Northwest to 19th Street Northwest

• East Capitol Street Northeast, from 1st Street to 2nd Street

• F Street North, from Second Street Northeast to 3rd Street Northeast, 15th Street Northwest to 3rd Street Northwest, and 19th Street Northwest to 17th Street Northwest

• G Place Northwest

• G Place Northeast, from North Capitol Street to 1st Street Northeast

• G Street North, from 15th Street Northwest to 12th Street Northwest, 19th Street Northwest to 17th Street Northwest, 6th Street Northwest to 3rd Street Northwest, North Capitol Street to 1st Street Northeast, and 2nd Street Northeast to 3rd Street Northeast

• H Street North, from 19th Street Northwest to 12th Street Northwest, 5th Street Northwest to 3rd Street Northwest, and North Capitol Street to 3rd Street Northeast

• I Street Northwest from 18th Street Northwest to 12th Street Northwest

• Independence Avenue, from the Arlington Memorial Bridge to 1st Street Southeast

• Indiana Ave Northwest, from 7th Street Northwest to D Street Northwest

• Interstate Highway 395, from the 3rd Street tunnel to C Street Northwest

• Jefferson Drive Southwest, from 15th Street Southwest to 4th Street Southwest

• K Street Northwest, from 19th Street Northwest to 12th Street Northwest

• Louisiana Avenue, from Constitution Avenue Northwest to 1st Street Northwest and from D Street North East to Columbus Circle

• Madison Drive Northwest, from 15th Street Southwest to 3rd Street Southwest

• Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, from North Capitol Street and 3rd Street Northeast

• New York Avenue Northwest, from 15th Street Northwest to 12th Street Northwest

• Ohio Drive Southwest, from Independence Avenue to the Inlet Bridge

• Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, from 15th Street Northwest to 3rd Street Northwest and from 19th Street Northwest to 15th Street Northwest

• Virginia Avenue, from 19th Street to Constitution Avenue

• Washington Avenue Southwest, from Independence Avenue Southwest to D Street Southwest

• Zei Alley Northwest

Additionally, the following streets will be closed beginning 0600 Jan. 16:

• 20th Street, from C Street to Constitution Avenue

• 21st Street, from Virginia Avenue to Constitution Avenue

• 22nd Street, from C Street to Constitution Avenue

• 23rd Street, from Virginia Avenue to Independence Avenue

• Daniel French Drive

• Henry Bacon Drive Northwest

• Rock Creek Parkway, from the Kennedy Center to Virginia Avenue Northwest

• West Basin Drive Southwest, from Ohio Drive to Independence Avenue

Further street closures are possible in downtown Washington, DC, especially on Inauguration Day. Security personnel have also set up checkpoints on several roads. In some instances, authorities are not permitting people who cannot demonstrate that they live or have business in the area to proceed beyond checkpoints.

Closures are also impacting the city's public transport system, with the following Metro stations shuttered through Jan. 21:

• Archives

• Arlington Cemetery

• Capitol South

• Farragut North

• Farragut West

• Federal Center Southwest

• Federal Triangle

• Judiciary Square

• McPherson Square

• Smithsonian

• Union Station

Additionally, Gallery Place and Metro Center, the system's two major hubs, will be closed Jan. 16-Jan. 21.

Authorities have deployed additional security forces at regional airports, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Train stations in the area, especially Union Station, will also likely see heavy deployments of police, who may search the luggage and check the identifications of passengers.

Major transport and business disruptions are likely throughout the region as a result of the security operation.

Context

While the inaugural festivities will be significantly smaller than in previous years as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the violent unrest at the Capitol on Jan. 6 has prompted authorities to impose unprecedented security measures, such as the complete closure of the National Mall.

Advice

Heed the instructions of security personnel. Allow significant additional travel time to reach destinations in the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area, as well as to transit regional airports and train stations.