Standing in a large conference room that in a week will be manned by representatives of 47 separate agencies monitoring security in the nation's capital, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson outlined the massive effort underway for the presidential inauguration.
Speaking at the Multi Agency Communications Center on Jan. 13, Johnson said security preparations for the event have been collaborative across both agency and state and local levels.
This year's inauguration is expected to draw between 700,000 and 900,000 people to Washington, D.C., including some 63 groups permitted to demonstrate on Jan. 20.
"Anytime you have, coming together, such large numbers of people and such large numbers of groups that intend to demonstrate and exercise their First Amendment rights, we've got to be vigilant, we've got to plan, we've got to prepare and that's why we have so many agencies and public safety organizations that are here under the umbrella of this [National Special Security Event]," he said.
Johnson said that planning for the inauguration began back in July 2016, when he designated the event a National Special Security Event — a decree that that coordinates the resources of the Department of Homeland Security and numerous other stakeholders when a significant event is begin held.
The 2017 inauguration is the 56th NSSE since the designation was made law in 2000, but as with everything involved with the 2016 presidential election, this event is unique.
Johnson said that from Jan. 19-21, some 28,000 law enforcement officials will be monitoring security around the inauguration events.
Ninety-nine groups have been awarded permits to demonstrate over those three days and while they are expected to be peaceful, Secret Service Deputy Director Bill Callahan said that inauguration planning has been thorough following the tenor of the election.
"Given the scope and breadth of this unprecedented presidential campaign, we worked tirelessly with our partners that you see here today to develop comprehensive security and contingency plans for this event," he said.
When asked about the violence that dogged several of President-elect Donald Trump's campaign events in 2016, U.S. Park Police Chief Rob MacLean said that authorities had sought to position opposing groups separately as to not hinder their freedom of speech, but also ensure the event space is safe.
"They will be spread out and they will be placed in areas where they can express their First Amendment rights," he said. "We also have personnel, obviously, that will be monitoring these groups. And any disruption or opposing group would be allowed to demonstrate within sight and sound distance of that group, however separated safely."
Another issue Johnson said DHS will be aware of is the possibility of a truck attack similar to the recent incidents in Berlin and Nice, France.
The Homeland Security secretary said that law enforcement would seek to contain traffic flow with soft and hard perimeters around the sight, allowing only authorized vehicles to enter some area, while restricting vehicle access completely closer in.
"There will be at the hard perimeter areas, this year, in light of the current threat environment — which includes Nice and Germany — more heavily fortified [security] against unauthorized vehicles by dump trucks, heavy trucks, trucks with cement, buses and things of the like," he said.
"That is a precaution that we will be doubling down on in particular this inauguration."
One thing that won't fall under the umbrella of the NSSE next week will be the Women's March on Washington, set to take place on Jan. 21.
Johnson said that while there will be sufficient security for the march, the NSSE is regulated to the inauguration and, therefore, separate.
Inauguration festivities begin on Jan. 19 and will run until Jan. 21.
