WASHINGTON — Temporary fencing is being reinstalled around the U.S. Capitol as federal security officials brace for protesting truckers to reach the Washington area, possibly to coincide with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday.
The measure adds to security preparations including the deployment of 400 National Guard members to help local police at key traffic arteries and checkpoints. Guard personnel won’t be issued firearms for that role.
Federal agencies have been monitoring the movements of several trucker groups making their way toward the capital region, according to an official familiar with the planning. There’s concern that Washington could face disruptions similar to those that tied up Ottawa, Canada’s capital, over COVID-19 vaccine requirements and other public health measures related to the pandemic.
