Norton Announces She’ll Introduce a Bill to Prohibit New Fencing at the White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After reports that the Trump Administration plans to erect new fences at the ends of Pennsylvania Avenue NW outside the White House, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced she will introduce a bill to prohibit new fencing from being installed at the White House, including Lafayette Square, the Eisenhower and Treasury Buildings, and the Ellipse. 

“The openness of areas around the White House and our democracy is our strength, not a security weakness that needs to be fenced off,” Norton said. “More fencing around the President’s Park would send the wrong message to the nation and the world by continuing to transform our democracy from one that is accessible and of the people to one that is exclusive and fearful of its own citizens.

“Security is not only about reducing risk. It’s also about safeguarding the freedoms and values that anchor our country, not only for ourselves but for future generations. Public property should be open to the public. We should not leave citizens peering at their democracy from behind fences.”

Norton has long advocated for using the least restrictive means necessary for securing public property, introducing a bill to prohibit permanent fencing at the Capitol, a separate bill to prohibit permanent fencing at the Supreme Court, and a third bill to prohibit permanent fencing specifically around Lafayette Square. She also introduced a bill to authorize a 21-member commission, with the president designating nine members and the House and Senate leadership each designating six members, to investigate and offer recommendations on the balance between public access to and security in federal buildings and other federal property.

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