59th Presidential Inauguration NSSE Designation Expanded

The Department of Homeland Security announced on January 12 that the designation of the 59th Presidential Inauguration as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) would be expanded following the events at the Capitol and requests from stakeholders. Pursuant to Presidential Policy Directive-22, the inauguration was previously declared an NSSE from January 19, 2021 to January 21, 2021. However, in response to a number of requests from Congress and Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC, the NSSE period now begins on January 13.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Pete Gaynor announced in a memorandum that in light of the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol that took place on January 6, 2021, more security and law enforcement is crucial to maintaining law and order in D.C. on the days surrounding the inauguration.

According to a Congressional Research Service Fact Sheet on NSSE designations updated on January 11, 2021, an NSSE designation places the U.S. Secret Service in the lead role of exercising and implementing security operations.

“The USSS’s Dignitary Protective Division (DPD) is responsible for NSSE planning and coordinates with other USSS headquarters and field offices. Some of the coordination includes advance planning and liaison for venue and air space security, training, communications, and security credentialing. Additionally, DPD coordinates and conducts liaisons with other federal, state, and local agencies—primarily law enforcement entities,” the report explains.

The report goes on to note that NSSE operation plans include use of physical infrastructure security fencing, barricades, special access accreditation badges, K-9 teams, and other security technologies.

While the Secretary of Homeland Security makes the ultimate decision to designate an event as an NSSE, this decision is assisted by the advice of an NSSE Working Group made up of interagency subject matter experts and co-chaired by the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Acting Secretary Gaynor explained his decision in the memorandum, which states, “The designation of the 59th Presidential Inauguration for this period of time allows the full resources of the Federal Government to be brought to bear in the development of event security and incident management plans to ensure the safety of all participants.”