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Politics

Federal panel reviews proposals for Lafayette Park fence and underground White House visitor center

The National Capital Planning Commission is weighing permanent security upgrades intended to replace temporary barriers around the White House complex.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 04:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The National Capital Planning Commission is reviewing administration proposals for a permanent perimeter fence around Lafayette Park and a subterranean visitor screening center.
  • The proposed measures aim to replace temporary security fixtures, such as bike-rack barriers and tents, following recent security incidents and assassination attempts against President Donald Trump.
  • No votes are scheduled for the initial discussion, and the Commission of Fine Arts previously approved the visitor center plans while taking no action on the fence.
  • If approved, the visitor center is slated to open by July 2028, while the park fence would mark the first permanent enclosure of Lafayette Square since the late 19th century.

Key facts

  • The 79-page Lafayette Park proposal outlines options to fully enclose the eight-acre space with gates at the north and south, with designs that either include or exclude the park's four corner monuments.[Associated Press]
  • The proposed underground White House Visitor Screening Facility is intended to replace temporary screening tents and is targeted for completion by July 2028.[Associated Press]
  • The National Capital Planning Commission is holding its initial discussion on both proposals without any scheduled votes.[Associated Press]
  • The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the visitor center plans in July but took no formal action on the Lafayette Square fencing proposal.[Associated Press]
  • Lafayette Square has not had a permanent fence installed around its perimeter since the late 1800s.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain when the planning commission will take a formal vote on either proposal and whether the final park design will incorporate the four corner monuments.[Associated Press]

Sources