US Capitol fence to be scaled back, security questions linger

Security fence around US Capitol is the cause of ire among some legislators, who say barrier reminds them of ‘warzone’.

Security officials have announced they will reduce fencing around the US Capitol and cut off the entire area to pedestrian and vehicular traffic since the January 6 riot, as a report says the Army was reluctant to assist Washington, DC authorities ahead of the deadly riot. Timothy Blodgett, the acting House sergeant-at-arms, said on Monday in a memo to members of Congress the fencing will be scaled back in two phases in response to guidance from the US Capitol Police that “there does not exist a known, credible threat” that warrants keeping the temporary barrier in place. The moves will “move the fence closer to the Capitol building and will provide access to the avenues and some of the sidewalks. The [Architect of the Capitol] will also remove the razor wire on the inner perimeter fence”.