President Donald Trump’s latest plans to reshape security around the White House are set for review by a federal planning panel on Thursday, adding to a series of major projects that have received approval from Washington’s architectural and planning bodies.
The National Capital Planning Commission is expected to examine proposals for a permanent fence around Lafayette Park, located directly in front of the White House, as well as an underground security screening facility for visitors.
The commission will consider both proposals for the first time, although no votes are expected during Thursday’s meeting. So far, neither the planning commission nor the separate US Commission of Fine Arts has presented a significant obstacle to Trump’s plans for the capital.
The Commission of Fine Arts, which includes Trump appointees, approved the proposed White House visitor screening facility during its July meeting. It also received a presentation on the Lafayette Square fence but did not take a vote.
The proposed fencing is expected to attract greater debate because it would permanently alter public access and the appearance of Lafayette Square.
The National Capital Planning Commission has fewer Trump appointees but still includes several officials and lawmakers aligned with the Republican president. Its 12 members include three presidential appointees, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, General Services Administrator Ed Forst, and Republican lawmakers Senator Rand Paul and Representative James Comer.
Mark Paoletta, the commission’s newly appointed chairman, will preside over the meeting for the first time. He previously served as a senior White House lawyer, while White House Counsel Will Scharf held the chairmanship before him.
The proposals come as the administration places greater emphasis on presidential security following several threats against Trump.
Trump was targeted in two assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign and faced another incident in April while attending a Washington dinner with White House journalists. Security concerns intensified further in May when US Secret Service officers fatally shot a man who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint.
The administration has argued that the proposed projects would improve security while replacing temporary measures that have been used for years, including bicycle racks adapted as barriers.
The Lafayette Square proposal would introduce permanent fencing around the entire eight-acre park, with larger gates planned for its northern and southern entrances. The administration’s 79-page proposal presents different options for whether monuments positioned at the park’s four corners would remain inside the fenced area.
The park has not had permanent fencing of this scale since the late 19th century, making the proposal a significant change to one of the most accessible public spaces outside the White House.
The proposed White House Visitor Screening Facility has attracted less opposition. The administration wants the underground facility completed by July 2028, saying it would replace temporary tents that have been used for visitor screening for years.
Officials say the permanent centre would strengthen security around the White House complex while also providing a better experience for visitors.
The original plan placed the underground facility near the southern end of Sherman Park, southeast of the White House. Following consultations with other agencies and organisations, however, the proposed location was shifted to the western edge of the park to avoid existing utility infrastructure.
