Inauguration Security: Operations, Appropriations, and Issues for Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 11, 2017 |
| Report Number |
R42867 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy; Jacob R. Straus, Analyst on the Congress; Christina M. Bailey, Information Research Specialist |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Every four years, on January 20, the President-elect is sworn in as President of the United States.
Presidential inauguration ceremonies are unique public events in the District of Columbia. The
inauguration ceremonies are public and, like the President’s State of the Union address, they are
events in which a significant proportion of the American political leadership is in attendance.
Consequently, the inauguration is designated as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) by the
Department of Homeland Security. NSSEs are events that require significant security, in part
because of the attendance of U.S. and foreign dignitaries and the event’s public or official nature.
Funding for inauguration security operations is provided from the U.S. Secret Service’s National
Special Security Event general account, though information on the amount provided is not
publicly available. In limited circumstances, however, Congress has also provided supplemental
appropriations to reimburse local jurisdictions for inauguration-related activities. Other
inauguration spending is less easily identifiable because it is indirect and a part of typical annual
appropriations to the relevant agencies. Because of the absence of specificity, substantive policy
analysis on costs associated with inauguration security may be limited.
In addition to Congress’s responsibility for funding inauguration security operations, Congress
also conducts oversight of the security operations. Criticisms of past inauguration security
operations and practices generated congressional concern. An example of this criticism includes
reports that some 2009 presidential inauguration ticket holders were unable to reach their
designated seating areas due to security checkpoint contestation. Congressional, interest group,
and media criticism appears to be specifically focused on 2009 inauguration security operations
instead of general observations or criticism. There appears to have been no criticism of the 2013
inauguration’s security.
This report provides information on inauguration security operations and inauguration security
appropriations, and it discusses potential policy issues associated with inauguration security
operations. It also identifies some policy issues associated with inauguration security operations,
including some past inauguration security operations criticisms and inauguration security
operation appropriations. Options are provided for congressional consideration for future
inauguration and inauguration security planning.
Congressional interest in inauguration security may be based on various factors and determinates,
including its roles in appropriating funds for inaugurations, oversight of law enforcement and first
responder entities with inauguration security responsibilities, and hosting the swearing-in
ceremony, as well as the heightened interest in post-9/11 security operations. Congress may wish
to consider past criticisms of both inauguration security operations and appropriations.
