New White House Fence Approved

After multiple recent instances of people climbing the fence and entering the White House grounds, the Secret Service and the National Park Service have presented concepts to the Commission of Fine Arts to build a taller and stronger fence to protect the president and first family. The fence concept approved June 16, with construction set to begin in 2018, is 11 feet 7 inches high and incorporates anti-climb and intrusion-detection technology, “while respecting the historical significance and visitor experience at the White House and President’s Park,” according to a press release. This first phase focuses on the White House and its immediate grounds, while phase two will focus on improvements to fences around the U.S Department of the Treasury and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.