There are already significantly more American troops stationed on the Capitol than in Afghanistan and Iraq combined, an impressive statistic that underscores how massive the security presence already is.
The physical security perimeter around the Capitol and other important buildings also continues to expand. Roadblocks and steel barriers are extending many blocks from the Capitol. Roadblocks are also being set up further away from the White House and the National Naval Observatory, where the vice president lives.
The Secret Service is leading the overall security effort, working in coordination with federal law enforcement agencies and the Pentagon. Several defense officials told CNN that there is a large “requirements” meeting between agencies on Wednesday to discuss security requirements in depth.
Asked if he had seen so many reinforcements of the law coming to the District, the newly installed Chief Contee, who is a veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department and a lifelong DC resident, replied: “not at this level, no.”
Several defense officials told CNN that the total request for the National Guard is about 30,000 guards to support the US Capitol Police, the Park Police and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, but officials believe the number actual needed is close to 20,000. The final numbers will be provided by the Secret Service.
The authorities added that there is no concern that there will be any shortage of Guard forces to meet the requirements of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Officials consider raising the level of national terrorist threat
Discussions are underway on increasing the threat of terrorism, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, although one source has warned that changes are not expected at the moment.
The National Terrorism Advisory System – which replaced the color-coded alerts from the Homeland Security Advisory System – is under the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security. Warnings are sent in the event of an imminent or high threat to the public.
One official said the discussions started after last week’s uprising and were based on information that a similar attack by “armed militias” could take place on Capitol Hill or elsewhere.
The last statement issued resulted from an Iran-related terrorist threat to the United States last January. It has already expired. According to the DHS website, decisions about issuing a statement and its form are informed by “intelligence and risk assessments for the public and critical infrastructure”.
DHS did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
‘The conversation is off the charts’
The Secret Service is taking the lead in inauguration security planning efforts as there is growing concern among law enforcement officials that the success of violent mobs in violating the Capitol has increased the potential for attacks because people can be encouraged to commit violence.
“The conversation is out of the ordinary now,” said an official.
CNN reported on Tuesday that thousands of armed pro-Donald Trump extremists are planning to surround the U.S. Capitol before Biden’s inauguration, according to a member of Congress who was among those informed on Monday.
But the Secret Service is prepared to secure possession, Homeland Security Department second-in-command Ken Cuccinelli told CNN, although he recognizes that there are always “problem players” who appear.
“There are always problematic players who speak before an inauguration and there are always some who show up,” Cuccinelli, the senior DHS officer who serves as deputy secretary, when asked about threats to the upcoming event. Cuccinelli also said that the Secret Service is preparing for the possibility of a bigger security problem than the January 6 events, but added that the agency is “fully prepared to deal with it”.
Several employees told CNN that there is a much better feeling that things are organized and being put in place correctly because the Secret Service is in charge, with an employee simply saying, “They don’t mess up.”
Cuccinelli, who has been the public face of the security affairs department since the attack on the Capitol, said the biggest change in security preparations was to postpone the start date of the National Special Security Event (NSSE) to six days, with the official designation arriving Wednesday morning.
An NSSE aims to bring the full strength of the federal government and its resources and make the Secret Service the leader of security operations.
Security measures even include parking spaces.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said public parking lots in areas of downtown DC and near the Capitol will be closed from 6am (Brasília time) on Friday until the inauguration. Any cars left in these garages will be inaccessible until after possession.
This story has been updated with further developments.
CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Vivian Salama, Alison Main, Nicky Robertson and Barbara Starr contributed to this report.