Security around the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. has been fortified ever since the Jan. 6 siege. Now, Axios reporter Kadia Goba writes that measures are being taken to secure the building on the inside.
Workers were spotted Wednesday night taking down the doors on one of the double-doored entrances to the gallery a level above the floor of the chamber. The new doors being installed will be layered with kevlar — the same material used in bulletproof vests and military helmets. There are 20 sets of doors in total around the chamber.
One of the most enduring images from Jan. 6 was of police officers, guns drawn, guarding one of the barricaded entrance doors to the chamber. That brought time for lawmakers to be evacuated before rioters could breach the room.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells Axios the plans to install the bulletproof doors was actually decided before the Jan. 6 attack.
The attack led to heightened security measures around the Capitol grounds, including fencing and thousands of National Guards troops. That’s led to criticism, particularly from Republican lawmakers, who say it’s time to scale back the security. The Capitol Police, which oversees security at the Capitol, has already begun making changes to its protection protocols.