The news comes as authorities are in an elevated state and scrambled Monday morning to respond to a fire in the U.S. Capitol general area. While the Capitol was locked up for a short time and a rehearsal for Biden’s inauguration took place on Wednesday, the source of the fire appears to be a propane tank that exploded in a homeless camp nearby.
In all, the Pentagon has authorized about 2,750 active people to support the inauguration, but the bulk of it – about 2,000 – is for ‘ceremonial support’, according to the group, the official said.
National security leaders across the country this week ordered an unprecedented display of power ahead of the inauguration. The active duty teams will join the approximately 21,500 National Guards currently deployed in the National Capital Region, which will help civilian authorities respond to the threat of possible violence in the days leading up to the inauguration. The number could rise to 25,000 guards, many of whom protect the Capitol, armed with deadly weapons and unrest.
The FBI said Thursday that it has already made more than 100 arrests in connection with the January 6 assault on the Capitol and that law enforcement is monitoring a large number of online chats before the inauguration.
While the North American Aviation Defense Order, or NORAD, is responsible for enforcing flight restrictions over the country’s capital on the day of the inauguration, as on any other day, no NORAD forces are specifically committed to supporting the inauguration, the defense official said. .
“Multiple resources, including rotating wing and fighter jets, are always ready to intercept any aircraft that may pose a safety issue in the area,” the official said.