Heightened safety, pruned visitor checklist: All that we all know of Biden’s inauguration to this point

In lower than every week, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris shall be sworn in through the 59th inaugural ceremony in Washington DC. But below the shadow of the continuing coronavirus pandemic and the latest violent assault by Trump supporters on the US Capitol, the inauguration occasion on January 20 shall be not like any the nation has seen earlier than.
From heightening safety presence within the days main as much as the inauguration, to drastically scaling again the visitor checklist, officers have taken each attainable step to make sure that the occasion takes place and not using a hitch.

Heightened safety
Much like practically each US President earlier than him, Biden shall be sworn in on the west entrance of the US Capitol on Wednesday. But after the riot final week, the occasion will happen below the watchful eyes of round 20,000 National Guard troops, who had been deployed in DC to forestall some other violent insurrections within the days main as much as the presidential inauguration, the Washington Post reported.

The troops have been on a 24-hour watch ever because the House voted to question President Donald Trump for the second time on Thursday. In truth, safety has been tightened on the Capitol buildings of states throughout the nation, as teams of indignant Trump supporters took to the streets to protest in opposition to what they consider was a “rigged election”.
But regardless of threats of extra violence, Biden has mentioned that he’s not afraid of “taking the oath outside”, NPR reported.
Hundreds of National Guard troops maintain contained in the Capitol Visitor’s Center to bolster safety on the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Homeland safety imposed a safety lockdown throughout downtown Washington greater than every week forward of schedule following the riot in Capitol Hill. Hotels, airways and companies have additionally scaled up safety measures within the run as much as the large occasion.
Several carriers, together with American Airlines and United Airlines, mentioned they’ve beefed up safety and elevated staffing after the incident. A spokesperson for Delta Airlines introduced that the service had put 880 individuals on its no-fly checklist for not complying with its masks necessities and has banned others from flying with the airline for harassing different passengers or different behaviour linked to the US election outcomes, Reuters reported.
This comes after movies of Trump supporters heckling Utah Senator Mitt Romney on a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Washington D.C went viral on social media. The airline has additionally banned travellers flying to Washington space airports from checking in firearms earlier than inauguration day.
On Wednesday, the US Secret Service formally took cost of the President-elect’s safety for his inauguration and is working collectively with federal regulation enforcement businesses and the Pentagon, in accordance with CNN.
Biden’s inauguration rehearsal postponed 
A run-through of the inauguration ceremony, which was slated to happen on Sunday, was postponed as a consequence of safety causes, Politico reported. The rehearsal will now happen on Monday, two days earlier than Biden shall be formally sworn in.
FBI director Christopher Wray earlier mentioned that regulation enforcement authorities had been investigating people who may doubtlessly pose a risk through the inauguration, Reuters reported.
General public won’t attend
A development employee carries a hammer on his shoulder on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 on the National Mall in Washington, as a stage is ready for the 2021 Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar)
The National Mall, the place hundreds of cheering Americans would have in any other case gathered to witness the inauguration first hand, will stay closed to most people as a consequence of safety issues, CNN reported. Officials mentioned there shall be no huge screens, bathrooms or seating areas for the general public this 12 months.
Prominent vacationer sights within the US Capital, together with the Washington Monument, have been closed for excursions as a consequence of “credible threats to visitors and park resources” surrounding Biden’s inauguration, the National Park Service introduced.

We are excited to announce two #Inauguration2021 occasions that you may be a part of proper right here on @BidenInaugural social media!
On Saturday, we kick off the inauguration celebrations with America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers!
— Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 15, 2021
“We have comprehensive, coordinated plans in place to ensure the safety and security of the congressional community and the upcoming presidential inauguration,” Acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman mentioned in a press release.
Biden’s advisers have urged individuals to not attend the inauguration and to as an alternative take part just about.
Who’s on the visitor checklist?
As coronavirus instances and deaths proceed to surge throughout the United States, officers determined to reduce the visitor checklist for Biden’s inauguration. The swearing-in ceremony shall be restricted solely to members of Congress, who shall be permitted to deliver one visitor every, the occasion’s organisers introduced in December.
All incoming and outgoing Cabinet members, lawmakers and Supreme Court Justices are anticipated to attend, together with outgoing Vice President Mike Pence. President Trump, nonetheless, has mentioned he won’t be attending. “To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,” he wrote on Twitter, earlier than the social media platform suspended his account.
An individual takes a view of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, from behind a safety fence that was erected to bolster safety on the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar)
Normally members of Congress get a number of tickets to distribute at will. This 12 months, the 117th Congress’ members will solely be allowed a single plus-one every, which might permit for round 1,070 attendees in all.
“We know that many Americans would have wanted to attend the inauguration in-person. At the same time, safety must be our top priority,” Senator Amy Klobuchar, a member of the the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, mentioned. “While the pandemic has forced us to limit in-person attendance, it also brings opportunities to honour our democracy in inventive ways.”

Biden instructed reporters that Trump’s absence on the ceremony could be “a good thing”. “He exceeded even my worst notions about him,” he mentioned. “He’s been an embarrassment to the country, embarrassed us around the world. He’s not worthy to hold that office.”
Celebrities Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez shall be performing on the inaugural occasion. While Gaga will sing the nationwide anthem whereas Biden is being sworn in, Lopez will even give a musical efficiency. Both the singers have been related to the Biden-Harris marketing campaign prior to now.
Biden’s entrance
Biden will not be taking an Amtrak practice to Washington from Delaware for his inauguration due to safety issues, AP reported. Earlier, the president-elect had mentioned he would arrive within the capital onboard the practice as a testomony to his days as a senator when he would make the round-trip on a regular basis to be along with his youngsters in Delaware.
No inaugural ball
There shall be no inaugural balls following the swearing-in ceremony this 12 months. Instead, Biden’s inaugural committee is producing a 90-minute TV particular, which can function celebrities like Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake and Jon Bon Jovi. The program, titled “celebrating America”, will “spotlight American heroes,” in accordance with an outline of the occasion.

“We have witnessed countless heroes this past year step up to the frontlines and serve their fellow Americans, so we are telling their stories, spreading their collective light, and celebrating the best of our country and its people with this prime-time program,” Tony Allen, CEO of Biden’s presidential inaugural committee mentioned in a press release.