D.C.’s delegate to Congress is taking action on her opposition to permanent fencing around the U.S. Capitol.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announced Monday that she would introduce legislation that bans it around the Capitol complex. Such fencing has been one idea for better securing the Capitol since last month’s attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Last week in a video statement, acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said a security assessment of the Capitol complex is underway. But she had gone on the record about a week earlier declaring that permanent fencing is needed.
“In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing,” Pittman said.
Norton calls that approach an overreaction, and said that there are more effective alternatives.
“We should not be relying on security theater based on 19th-century ideas when state-of-the-art options and old-fashioned preparation and cooperation among security forces could have prevented the events of January 6,” Norton said.
WTOP has reached out to Capitol Police for comment.
