Inauguration Security and Operations

Inauguration Security and Operations

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Updated July 11, 2024
Inauguration Security and Operations
Introduction
Previous Inauguration Operations and
Since the ratification of the 20th Amendment (1933), the
Logistics
oath of office for President of the United States has been
Presidential inaugurations are public events that are
scheduled to be administered every four years at noon on
conducted primarily at the U.S. Capitol complex, on the
January 20. In 2025, the presidential inauguration is
grounds of the National Mall, and in public spaces along
scheduled for noon on Monday, January 20. Planning for
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, for a traditional parade. For
the 2025 inauguration is in its early stages. Inauguration
example, Figure 1 shows a map of the 2017 inauguration
security and operational adjustments to traditional
ceremonies ticketing areas on the West Front of the U.S.
ceremonies, customs, and practices could be made for the
Capitol. A map for the 2021 inauguration ceremony was not
2025 ceremony. This In Focus presents information related
publicly published.
to 2025 inauguration security and operations based on past
inaugural activities and announced activities to date.
Figure 1. 2017 Inauguration Ceremonies Map
Additional security details will be added as they are
publicly announced.
Current Inaugural Plans
Inaugural events, pursuant to public law (36 U.S.C. §501),
include “the day on which the Presidential inaugural
ceremony is held, the 5 calendar days immediately
preceding that day, and the 4 calendar days immediately
following that day.” While the swearing-in ceremony is the
only constitutionally required event, other events have
become part of the inaugural festivities. These typically
include an inaugural luncheon, an inaugural parade, and
inaugural balls. The swearing-in ceremony is hosted by the
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
(JCCIC) and is most commonly held on the West Front
steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Some past inaugurations have seen plans adjusted to
address unusual circumstances. For example, when January
20 falls on a Sunday, public ceremonies have historically
been moved to Monday, January 21, with the President-
elect sworn in during a private ceremony at noon on

January 20. In 1985, for President Ronald Reagan’s second
Source: U.S. Capitol Police, “Inaugural Ceremonies-Map and
inauguration, January 20 fell on a Sunday and the public
Guidance,” press release, January 12, 2017, https://www.uscp.gov/
ceremony was scheduled for the West Front of the Capitol
media-center/press-releases/inaugural-ceremonies-map-and-
the following day. The January 21 ceremony, however, was
guidelines.
moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda because of freezing

weather (an estimated 7°F, with a wind chill of -10°F to
A significant portion of American political leadership
-20°F at noon, the constitutionally specified time for the
typically attends presidential inauguration events. Due to
beginning of the new presidential term). In 2021, for
safety and security concerns, the inauguration ceremony
President Joe Biden’s inauguration, the JCCIC announced
and surrounding events are historically designated a
that the “global pandemic and the rise in COVID-19 cases
National Special Security Event (NSSE). NSSEs are high-
warranted a difficult decision to limit attendance at the 59th
profile, and usually public, events that require significant
Inaugural Ceremonies to a live audience that resembles a
security because of the attendance of U.S. and foreign
State of the Union.” As such, each Member of Congress
dignitaries and the event’s public or official nature. The
received two tickets to the swearing-in ceremony and the
United States Secret Service (USSS) is designated as the
number of dignitaries on the inaugural dais was somewhat
primary federal entity responsible for NSSE security.
limited.
Beyond the USSS, other law enforcement and first
responder agencies historically had inauguration security
responsibilities. For example, in 2021, the United States
Capitol Police, the Metropolitan DC Police Department, the
U.S. Park Police, the Transportation Security
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Inauguration Security and Operations
Administration, National Guard units, and other law
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police
enforcement and first responder entities assisted the USSS
(WMATA);
by providing security as well as logistical and operational
• Federal Protective Service (FPS);
support for the swearing-in ceremony and other inaugural
• Arlington, VA, Police Department;
events.
• Alexandria, VA, Police Department;
• Prince George’s County, MD, Police Department;
In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, the JCCIC
• Montgomery County, MD, Police Department; and
historically hosts an inaugural luncheon in National
• U.S. Military District of Washington.
Statuary Hall. Following the swearing-in ceremony and
luncheon, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) and
Inauguration Security Funding
the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR)
Agencies involved in inauguration security often do not
inauguration team traditionally organize an inaugural
receive specific account-level appropriations for
parade and the PIC coordinates numerous inaugural balls.
inauguration security operations. Instead, inauguration
The status and schedule of these events is undetermined at
security costs are often included in regular fiscal year
this time; all would likely require special security
planning and budget requests. In recent years, Congress has
operations.
appropriated additional funds to reimburse some local
governments and federal agencies for inauguration-related
Inauguration Security Operations
expenses and has provided specific appropriations to the
For January 20, 2025, security of the inauguration is seen as
USSS for unanticipated costs related to security operations
paramount. When an inauguration is designated an NSSE,
for NSSEs, which could be used for inauguration-related
USSS becomes the lead federal agency in developing,
activities.
exercising, and implementing security operations. The goal
of these security operations, according to USSS, is to
One area where Congress has provided specific
develop and implement a seamless security plan that will
appropriations to reimburse a local jurisdiction is the
create a safe and secure environment for the public, event
District of Columbia. For example, for the 2017
participants, Secret Service protectees, and other
inauguration, Congress appropriated $19.99 million for
dignitaries.
emergency planning and security costs in the District of
Columbia (P.L. 114-223, §127, 130 Stat. 913). For the 2021
Inauguration security operational plans have historically
inauguration, Congress appropriated $35 million to the
included the use of security fencing, barricades, special
District of Columbia for associated costs (P.L. 116-159,
access accreditation badges, K-9 teams, and other security
Div. A, §131, 134 Stat. 716; P.L. 116-260, 134 Stat.1402).
technologies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
pre-positions Domestic Emergency Support Teams, Urban
Historically, limited appropriations for NSSEs, as well as
Search and Rescue Teams, national Emergency Response
the absence of account-level inauguration security
Teams, Nuclear Incident Response Teams, and the Strategic
operations appropriations, potentially constrains the ability
National Stockpile and Mobile Emergency Response
of the USSS or Congress to examine the costs associated
System assets as part of their preparedness efforts. Specific
with inaugurations generally, and inauguration security
teams and groupings of teams are designed based on the
operations specifically.
event’s unique characteristics, coordination with other
federal entities, state and local jurisdictions, available local
For more information on the Joint Congressional
resources, and mutual aid agreements.
Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), see CRS
Report R42603, Joint Congressional Committee on
For the 2021 inauguration, the USSS Office of Protective
Inaugural Ceremonies: History, Membership, and
Operations/Dignitary Protective Division and the USSS
Inaugural Activities, by Jacob R. Straus. For more
Washington Field Office convened an initial planning
information on inauguration tickets, see CRS In Focus
meeting with federal, state, and local law enforcement
IF11688, Inaugural Tickets: Past Practices and
entities as the security perimeter typically includes the
Considerations for 2021, by Jacob R. Straus. For a history
vicinity around downtown Washington, DC, and the
of past inauguration security-related issues, see CRS Report
National Mall. Securing the inauguration remains a regional
R42867, Inauguration Security: Operations,
effort and the same entities convened for security planning
Appropriations, and Issues for Congress, by Shawn Reese,
for the 2021 inauguration will likely be convened for the
Jacob R. Straus, and Christina Miracle Finch.
2025 event, and will likely include
•
Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and
U.S. Capitol Police (USCP);
•
Homeland Security Policy
Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, DC
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
(MPD);
•
Christina Miracle Finch, Senior Research Librarian
U.S. Park Police (USPP);
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI);
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• Virginia State Police;
• Maryland State Police;

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Inauguration Security and Operations

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