WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Capitol has a new addition to it’s exterior: a fence. U.S. Capitol Pol lice added the fencing around the building ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address.    

Security at the Capitol has been a top issue ahead of the SOTU. There are reports of potential protests and a trucker convoy trying to make their way here to D.C. to protest against vaccine mandates. USCP released a statement saying  

“In light of the upcoming state of the union address, and the possibility of demonstrations in the next couple of weeks, we have been working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners on a security plan to prevent any disruptions to the important work of congress.” 

As you get closer to the Capitol, you can’t miss it. It’s the same fenced they used for months following the January 6th Capitol attack and during the ‘Justice for J6' rally, where supporters of people arrested in the attack rallied outside the building.  

“I think we heard once we got to Washington D.C. it was going to be more limited and we were disappointed,” said Gayle Korfhage who is visiting D.C. from Kentucky with her family. They’re taking their grandson here for the first time but are disappointed people are limited on where they can visit on Capitol grounds.  

“All the other grandsons have been able to walk through here and do what they want,” said Korfhage’s grandson, Max Cooke.  

“We’ve been coming here for years and it’s just disappointing every time more and more of the monuments and the government buildings are fenced off,” said Ted Korfhage.  

But they're split on whether this fencing is necessary.   

“Honestly, I think it’s probably is necessary to be precautious,” said Gayle Korfhage.  

“I think it’s overkill,” said Ted Korfhage. “Hopefully it’s overkill and that it’s not going to be needed that there won’t be any major protests and that we may get back to more normal.”  

USCP declined an interview but when we asked how long the fence will stay up, they only replied: “TBD” meaning, to be determined. The Defense Department also approved requests to deploy hundreds of national guard troops to help with police and traffic control. Other local D.C. law enforcement agencies could also help the national guard if needed.