President Donald Trump on Monday approved an emergency declaration for Washington DC, before President-elect Joe Biden took office and amid fears of potential violence following last week’s deadly turmoil inside the U.S. Capitol.
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser asked for the declaration order in a Sunday letter to Trump days after a crowd broke into the Capitol and collided violently with the authorities while lawmakers certified the victory of the Biden Electoral College. The statement runs from Monday to January 24.
Trump’s order authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance for emergency actions.
QUICK FACTS
- Security concerns increased during the inauguration amid reports that armed extremists are organizing for more action after last week’s attack.
- The FBI warned that all 50 state capitals could see protests before, on or after Inauguration Day.
“Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, the equipment and resources necessary to mitigate the impacts of the emergency,” says the statement. “Emergency protection measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided with 100 percent federal funding.”
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