Secret Service Seeks Sword Removal from Statues and Permanent Fencing at Lafayette Square

Secret Service officials on Tuesday presented proposals to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to remove swords from statues near the White House and replace temporary fencing around Lafayette Square with permanent access controls. Washington Examiner reported that the plans include two designs for public entrances at the end of 16th Street.

Andy Stohs, a Secret Service technical adviser, said the goal is to eliminate temporary fences and barriers used for security events. ” Richard Macauley, chief of the Secret Service’s Uniformed Division, stated that removing swords from statues is required for security reasons.

“I’ve witnessed multiple spontaneous mass incursions where officers and the public were injured as a result of a demonstration,” Macauley said.

The commission received quite a bit of public comment, including well over 100 messages submitted late. Nord Wennerstrom, representing the Cultural Landscape Foundation, said the renovations have not followed the review process under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The committee also considered replacing the White House’s security tents with a permanent screening facility underneath Sherman Park.

One entrance design features rotating fence posts that open or close based on conditions, while the other uses two larger gates on existing sidewalks.