Norton Calls Again to Raise Height, Change Structure of White House Fence

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following last night's White House perimeter breach, the second breach in less than six weeks, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today called again for a higher wrought-iron fence, perhaps curved forward to prevent fence-jumping. Norton said that it is possible to increase the height and change the shape of the fence, while keeping it consistent with its historic authenticity, considering security concerns. At an Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing in September, Norton asked U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson, now resigned from her position, whether she had considered such a fence. Pierson said she would consider Norton's suggestion concerning the fence. Norton called this suggestion "a common-sense solution to what seems to be an on-going problem" and reiterated her call to action.

"The Secret Service has learned from the most serious breach in its history that dogs need to be on the job on the ground where the fence-jumpers want to be, not at an off-site location," Norton said. "However, last night's jumper scaled the fence when the President was in the residence. When will the Department of Homeland Security or the Secret Service seek a historically authentic, secure wrought-iron fence to thwart fence jumpers? The potential effectiveness of such measures is clear, unlike the overreach of keeping the public farther away from the White House. These two steps – updating the fence and keeping dogs close to the fence – show that what we need is common sense and attentiveness to every security detail at the perimeter."

Last month, following the breach by Omar Gonzalez and ahead of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the matter, Norton toured the White House perimeter to see for herself whether public access was being safeguarded or if the first target for fixing White House security was the public. Prior to her site visit, Norton sent a letter requesting a meeting with U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson, who later phoned Norton.

Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Secret Service closed the entire area around the White House to public access. However, Norton worked with the White House and the National Park Service to widen the road on E Street at the back of the White House, and maintained the access across E Street, a major thoroughfare for the city and the region. However, the road was summarily closed after 9/11 and the Secret Service has since found no way to reopen this road. Norton said that Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House must remain open to the public.