Norton Letter to White House Security Review Panel Asks for ‘Least Restrictive Means’ in Addressing Security Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter Norton sent today to the White House Security Review Panel, asking them to use the "least restrictive means necessary to address security concerns" as they reassess security around the White House perimeter. Norton urged the panel, established by United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, to "keep Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House and the surrounding area, including Lafayette Park, Pennsylvania Avenue, 17th Street and 15th Street, accessible to the public as they are today." She also reinstated her call for a higher wrought-iron fence that is curved forward, a suggestion echoed by many security professionals, and called this investigation of White House security "indispensable and overdue."
"Considering what the Oversight and Government Reform Committee learned at our hearing on September 30, 2014, issues such as fence-jumping and investigating the firing of bullets near the White House were internal to the Secret Service and did not involve the general public," Norton said in her letter. "However, if you find during your investigation that certain physical changes are needed near the White House compound, such changes should be in keeping with current public access to the areas surrounding the White House and maintenance of the current views of this historic national landmark."
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 (OGR) 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.
Last month, following the breach by Omar Gonzalez of the White House fence and ahead of the OGR 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.
Norton's letter follows:
October 31, 2014
Members of White House Security Panel
c/o The Honorable Jeh C. Johnson
Secretary
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Dear Ms. Gray, Mr. Perrelli, Mr. Filip, and Mr. Hagin:
I commend your important work to safeguard the security of the White House compound. As a senior Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which recently held hearings on the Secret Service, I write concerning the significant issue of public access to the area surrounding the White House, which I believe must be factored into your recommendations. I also believe that further distancing visitors from the White House area would be met with skepticism and protest from Members of Congress. All agree with the priority that must be given to ensuring that the President, First Family and other dignitaries are protected, but I want to make sure that this panel is cognizant of the importance of using the least restrictive means necessary to address security concerns.
After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, I worked with the White House and the National Park Service to maintain public access to the White House and surrounding area by widening E Street and keeping it accessible. However, following September 11, 2001, access on E Street was closed to the public. However, we worked with the White House to secure the opening of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to ensure public access. It would be indefensible to close the entire perimeter around the White House to the public.
Considering what the Oversight and Government Reform Committee learned at our hearing on September 30, 2014, issues such as fence-jumping and investigating the firing of bullets near the White House were internal to the Secret Service and did not involve the general public. However, if you find during your investigation that certain physical changes are needed near the White House compound, such changes should be in keeping with current public access to the areas surrounding the White House and maintenance of the current views of this historic national landmark. I ask that you keep Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House and the surrounding area, including Lafayette Park, Pennsylvania Avenue, 17th Street and 15th Street, accessible to the public as they are today. These are First Amendment protected areas used by the public on a daily basis to both view the residence of the President and engage in their constitutional right to petition the government, and must be kept open for their continued daily use. In addition, there appears to be need to prevent fence-jumping in particular, I ask that you take into consideration the suggestion of many security professionals to install a higher wrought-iron fence that is curved forward.
During a period when there have been an increasing number of fence jumpers at the White House and of continuing threats from domestic and international terrorists against the President and our country, your investigation of the Secret Service to ensure that the agency performs at the highest level is indispensable and overdue. I would ask that you be mindful as well of your responsibility to balance public access to areas such as the White House perimeter as a necessary ingredient of American life and democracy.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton