The presidential inauguration — a security event like no other

Today’s presidential inauguration will take place in Washington, D.C. amid the highest security designation our nation affords — a National Special Security Event (NSSE). This designation not only provides for financial resources, but it ensures unprecedented levels of coordination and cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement, and military assets.

Security at this year’s inauguration will once again be supplemented by some 200 local peace officers from Minnesota who will partner with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and thousands of other state and local officers from across the nation. The costs of this assistance are reimbursed through the NSSE designation.

This marks the sixth consecutive inauguration in which a contingent of Minnesota officers will be participating. The group of Minnesota officers flew out to D.C. Saturday morning on a chartered Sun Country jet — a tradition for this group that started 20 years earlier, and one I was proud to participate in over three previous inaugurations.

Together, these officers and their partners from around the country will represent the lion’s share of uniformed peace officers stationed in and around D.C. on Monday — totaling nearly 4,000 officers from 178 agencies. 

Traditionally they would line the parade route on Pennsylvania Ave. and provide visible security at the many balls and other official events in D.C. related to the inauguration. However, this year many changes and cancellations have occurred, including moving the swearing-in ceremony indoors, canceling the traditional Pennsylvania Ave. parade afterward, and probable changes to the celebratory balls this evening.

In addition to the state and local officers, each of the federal law enforcement agencies and our nation’s military will be represented in significant numbers — both ceremonially and in active partnership with local law enforcement.

Chemical, biological, and nuclear threat detection has been occurring for days, as has the more traditional threat detection activity — looking for firearms, explosives, and drone activity, as well as tracking down and monitoring or intercepting potential domestic and international threat actors. 

The amount of activity and movement, and the concentration of so many elected officials in one area creates a significant vulnerability — one many domestic and international actors would love to exploit. It will be critical for authorities to get this right and leave no stone unturned in their quest to prevent any type of attack or disturbance designed to derail the peaceful transfer of power we enjoy in this country.

It’s encouraging to see that the inauguration ceremony has been moved inside the Capitol. The stated reason was due to “extreme cold weather.” However, the forecast for today is sunny and 26F — hardly extreme. It’s more likely the move had to do with eliminating the threat an open-air venue presented. 

I’d expect President Trump’s movements throughout the day to remain unpredictable as well. This is something that I witnessed in 2021 when stated plans for the Biden motorcade to travel past our local contingent on Pennsylvania Ave. were changed without notice. In essence, much of the visible security presence became a ruse, as the Biden motorcade did an “end around” to get to and from the Capitol.

Ensuring that the transfer of power occurs without interference is priority number one — not the pomp and pageantry that has traditionally gone with it.

The best-laid plans are not fail-proof, and there are no doubt actors who wish to exploit any opportunity to disrupt or attack the event(s) and interfere with this power transfer. I stand in support of the tens of thousands of public safety and military men and women who have come together to ensure any attempts to disrupt the inauguration are detected, prevented, and mitigated at the earliest opportunity.

A year of planning and unprecedented resources are in place to make it happen — and a little good fortune would be welcomed as always.