Washington \u2014 Trump administration officials are discussing a plan for permanent fencing on the block of Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House and around Lafayette Square, in an effort to bolster security and reduce the recurring costs of erecting and dismantling temporary barriers for special events, sources familiar with the deliberations told CBS News.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Avenue is an iconic street in the nation\u2019s capital, connecting the White House to the U.S. Capitol. It provides tourists and pedestrians with the famous view of the North Portico, the public entrance to the White House.<\/p>\n
![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783708389_59_ap26191455486168.jpg#.jpeg\")
Scaffolding on the North Portico of the White House is seen through the fence around Lafayette Park, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Washington.\u00a0 AP Photo\/Alex Brandon<\/p>\n
By Friday, the decision hadn\u2019t been finalized and was still awaiting President Trump\u2019s approval. It was not immediately clear whether the president might object to the fencing for aesthetic reasons.<\/p>\n
The proposal is still preliminary, and no contractors have been hired. Under the plan being discussed, the U.S. Secret Service and the White House would retain the ability to open and close sections of the fencing as operational and security needs demand.<\/p>\n
Rather than purchasing an entirely new perimeter fence, officials are considering repurposing existing fencing materials that are already regularly used for major events and security operations, the sources said, though it\u2019s unclear how much additional construction would be needed.<\/p>\n
The proposed permanent fencing would be located near 15th and 17th Streets, NW, along Pennsylvania Avenue.<\/p>\n
There have been persistent security concerns about the presidential complex, particularly after a shooting<\/a> near the White House complex in late May that unfolded near the 17th Street entrance.<\/p>\n