WASHINGTON — In an effort to deter would-be White House fence jumpers, the Secret Service is adding a second layer of metal spikes to the top of the fence.
A joint statement from the National Park Service and the Secret Service, “a removable anti-climb feature consisting of sharp metal points” will be installed starting in early July.
The spikes will be added to the fence on the north and south sides of the White House. It will take about four weeks to complete, the statement says.
“The current fence is a barrier that effectively was useful as a security measure for a bygone era,” said Tom Dougherty, chief strategy officer for the Secret Service, on Thursday at a National Capital Planning Commission hearing, where the plan was outlined. “The interrelationship of the public to the White House now is unique and different.”
There have been repeated attempts by people to climb the fence. In September, a man was able to successfully scale the fence, run across the White House lawn and into the executive mansion.
The added layer of metal spikes will be a temporary fix as the Secret Service studies long-term solutions. The Secret Service is also making improvements to vehicle checkpoints around the White House. That project begins Friday.
