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There are already many more US troops deployed on Capitol Hill than in Afghanistan and Iraq combined, a staggering statistic that underscores just how massive the security presence already is.
The physical security perimeter around the Capitol and other key buildings also continues to expand. Roadblocks and steel barriers stretch many blocks from the Capitol. Roadblocks are also set up further away from the White House and the National Naval Observatory, where the vice president resides.
The Secret Service is leading the overall security effort in conjunction with federal law enforcement agencies and the Pentagon. Several senior defense officials told CNN there was a major interagency meeting on the “requirements” on Wednesday to discuss the security requirements in depth.
When asked if he had ever seen so many law enforcement reinforcements arrive in the district, the new army chief, who is a veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department and a permanent resident of DC , replied: “not at this level, no.”
Several defense officials told CNN that the total National Guard demand was nearly 30,000 guards to support the United States Capitol Police, Park Police and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, but officials estimate that the actual number needed is closer to 20,000. The final figures will be provided by the secret services.
Officials added that there was no fear that there would be a shortage of guard forces to meet the demands of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Officials plan to increase national terrorist threat level
Discussions are underway on increasing the level of terrorist threat, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, although one source warned that no changes are expected at this time.
The National Terrorism Advisory System – which replaced the color-coded alerts of the Homeland Security Advisory System – falls under the Department of Homeland Security. Advisories are issued in the event of imminent or high threat to the public.
One of the officials said the talks began in the wake of last week’s insurgency and were based on reports that a similar attack by “armed militias” could occur on Capitol Hill or elsewhere.
The latest opinion issued stems from an Iranian-related terrorist threat against the United States last January. It has since expired. According to the DHS website, decisions about whether to publish a notice and what form it takes are informed by “intelligence and risk assessments to the public and critical infrastructure.”
DHS did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
“ The chatter is out of the ordinary ”
The Secret Service is taking the lead in security planning efforts for the inauguration, as law enforcement officials increasingly fear that the success of violent crowds in breaching the Capitol has increased the potential for attacks because people could be encouraged to commit violence.
“Chattering is currently out of the ordinary,” one official said.
CNN reported on Tuesday that thousands of pro-Donald Trump armed extremists were plotting to surround the U.S. Capitol ahead of Biden’s inauguration, according to a congressman who was among those briefed on Monday evening.
But the Secret Service is ready to secure the inauguration, Department of Homeland Security second-in-command Ken Cuccinelli told CNN, while acknowledging that there are always “problem gamblers” coming up.
“There are always problematic players speaking before an inauguration, and there are always some who show up,” Cuccinelli, the top DHS official serving as deputy secretary, asked about threats to the event. to come up. Cuccinelli also said the Secret Service was preparing for the possibility of a larger security issue than the events of January 6, but added that the agency was “fully prepared to deal with it”.
Several officials told CNN that there was a much better feeling that things are being organized and put together properly because the Secret Service is in charge, with one official simply saying, “They are not kidding.”
Cuccinelli, who has been the department’s public face on security matters since the attack on the Capitol, said the biggest change in security preparations has been to move the start date of the special national event to the six-day security (NSSE), with the official designation coming Wednesday morning.
An NSSE is intended to mobilize the full strength of the federal government and its resources and places the Secret Service as the lead in security operations.
Security measures even include parking spaces.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said public parking garages in areas of downtown DC and near the Capitol will be closed from 6 a.m. ET Friday until the grand opening. All cars left in these garages will be inaccessible until after the inauguration.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Vivian Salama, Alison Main, Nicky Robertson and Barbara Starr contributed to this report.
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