Contruction on Taller White House Fence to Begin this Summer

Construction on Taller White House Fence to Begin this Summer

The fence around the White House will grow by five feet this summer.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • May 28, 2019

The fence that surrounds the White House will grow by five feet this summer. The new fence will be the first time the perimeter of the grounds have been altered in almost a century. 

The fence installation is part of plans to improve the perimeter of the grounds, according to an article by The Washington Post. Crews will begin this summer on replacing the now six foot fence (which stands on top of a two-foot stone wall) with one that will be 13 feet tall. The new fence will include an 18-inch, aboveground stone base at the bottom, a 10-foot, 7-inch metal fence and a one-foot tall "anti-climb feature" at the top.

The fence has largely remained the same since the early 1900s when a six foot fence was installed on top of a stone wall that had been added when Thomas Jefferson was president. The only alteration that had been made since was the addition of spikes at the top of the fence following 9/11.

Changes will also be made to six vehicular and nine pedestrian gates around the perimeter of the White House.

The changes will cost nearly $64 million and come after several incidents of intruders attempting to scale the fence to gain entrance to the White House grounds. Just last January a 55-year-old woman attempted to jump a barrier and a Virginia man tried to get into the White House saying he wanted to help President Trump, "bring peace to the world."

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.