Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief says Capitol security necessitates 'permanent fencing'

Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said in a statement on Thursday that "permanent fencing" is necessary to protect the Capitol.

"In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol," Pittman said in the statement. Yogananda also noted that "a 2006 security assessment specifically recommended the installation of a permanent perimeter fence around the Capitol."

The U.S. Capitol building was breached by rioters earlier this month on Jan. 6. 

"Upon becoming the Acting Chief on January 8, 2021, I immediately directed my staff to conduct a physical security assessment of the entire Capitol Complex," Yogananda noted. "This assessment is in addition to the USCP's Inspector General's review of the events of January 6, 2021, and the third-party review of the Complex's physical infrastructure, processes, and command and control being conducted at the behest of Speaker Pelosi by retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré."

"I welcome each of these reviews, and I am ensuring that the Department will provide all of the information that is necessary to facilitate these studies. In the end, we all have the same goal — to prevent what occurred on January 6 from ever happening again," she said.