Norton Says Temporary Security Improvements to White House Fence Will Ensure Continued Public Access

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today said she appreciated the National Capital Planning Commission's quick approval of temporary security enhancements to the White House complex. Removable steel spikes will be added to the top of the White House fence to prevent individuals from climbing the fence. Norton has repeatedly called for a higher White House fence since a fence jumper penetrated the White House itself in September, 2014. Norton said she has been assured by the U.S. Secret Service that there are no plans to bar the public from the front of the White House. Public access has been a major issue for Norton since the September, 2014 fence jumping incident, after which anonymous suggestions were floated to restrict public access to a major First Amendment area of the nation's capital. In addition to the temporary spikes added to the White House fence, temporary pop-up barriers, like those on Independence Avenue, will replace concrete barriers at E Street NW at the rear of the White House. Norton said she appreciated that these new barriers will provide greater access to pedestrian and bike traffic.

"The temporary spikes on the top of the front White House fence will go a long way to enhance security at the same time that they do not mar the historic view of the White House, and the pop-up barriers at vehicle checkpoints on E Street NW are a vast aesthetic improvement over the existing concrete barriers," Norton said. "When the temporary spikes are in place on top of the fence, there should be no need for the unsightly bike racks that currently surround the fence that significantly deface views of the White House, and I will insist that they be removed."