President Trump approved an emergency declaration for Washington DC on Monday and ordered federal assistance to complement the local response before President-elect Joe Biden took office as fears of potential violence continue to arise after last week’s deadly turmoil inside the US 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.
Biden takes office on January 20.
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Trump’s order authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance for emergency actions.
“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.”
In the wake of the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill, security concerns increased during the inauguration amid reports that armed extremists are organizing for more action. The FBI warned that all 50 state capitals could see protests before, on or after Induction Day.
“Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating and stopping individuals who are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity,” the FBI said in a statement to Fox News. “As we do in the normal course of business, we are collecting information to identify any potential threats and sharing that information with our partners. The FBI respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights.”
Biden played down any concerns about the ceremony and its traditional location outside the Capitol next week.
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“I’m not afraid to take the oath out there,” he told reporters in his home state, Delaware, after receiving the second of two injections of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday. “And we are being informed.”
Trump said he would skip the opening ceremony, but Vice President Mike Pence said he would be attending.
Paul Steinhauser of Fox News contributed to this report.