Just one week before President Trump’s inauguration, an alarming incident of unauthorized drone activity over the White House has raised serious security concerns.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) shared on social media that her flight to Washington, D.C., was redirected due to the situation.
“I just flew into DCA,” Greene wrote. “Before landing, our pilot announced he had to fly in from another direction due to ‘unauthorized drone activity’ over the White House.”
The incident occurred just hours after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and federal authorities assured the public of strict security measures during a Monday press conference.
The unexpected drone activity highlights the challenges law enforcement and federal agencies face as they prepare for President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration.
FBI Special Agent David Sundberg stated during the briefing that, although no credible threats have been identified, authorities remain vigilant.
“We are not currently tracking any specific or credible threats to the inaugural ceremony or to the Capitol complex,” Sundberg stated.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger emphasized that the threat of a ‘lone actor’ remains a top concern for law enforcement.
“That threat of the lone actor remains the biggest justification for us maintaining this heightened state of alert throughout the next week,” he said.
Special Agent in Charge William McCool of the Secret Service detailed an extensive security operation in response. Over 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel will be deployed to secure the inauguration. Measures include temporary flight restrictions, drone patrols, and more than 30 miles of fencing around the Capitol and other key areas.
“All attendees will undergo screening. Designated checkpoints will be set up for members of the public interested in attending the inauguration,” he stated.
McCool also highlighted the Secret Service’s year-long preparation for the event, with a focus on counter-drone operations due to the growing presence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in restricted airspace.
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