WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security has declared the upcoming electoral vote certification in the District as a "National Special Security Event" (NSSE).
The decision to designate Jan. 6, 2025 as a NSSE followed a request from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, marking the first time such a designation has been granted for this event, according to the United States Secret Service. The announcement comes a day after the first presidential debate between White House hopefuls Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, where Trump insisted "our elections are bad," and falsely claimed many undocumented immigrants were being allowed to vote.
Next year's electoral vote certification at the U.S. Capitol will also mark the first time the constitutional process will take place since the insurrection led by right-wing extremists temporarily disrupted it back in 2021. During the debate, Trump also refused to say if he regrets anything from that day, claiming the unprecedented attack on the Capitol "would have never happened if Nancy Pelosi and the mayor of Washington did their jobs. I wasn't responsible for security."
The NSSE designation was also supported by multiple reports from the House Select January 6 Committee and the Government Accountability Office, per U.S. Secret Service. The designation allows for significant resources from the federal government, as well as from state and local partners, to be directed toward a comprehensive security plan. It also empowers the U.S. Secret Service to assume its mandated role as the lead agency for the design and implementation of an operational security plan.
"The National Special Security Event designation will further strengthen our work to protect the Members of Congress and the legislative process. The United States Capitol Police has been preparing for the January 6 count, as well as the Inauguration, for several months. We have made hundreds of changes and improvements over the past three years, and we are confident that the Capitol will be safe and secure," said US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger in a statement.
“National Special Security Events are events of the highest national significance,” said Eric Ranaghan, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Dignitary Protective Division. “The U.S. Secret Service, in collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated security plan to ensure the safety and security of this event and its participants.”
U.S. Secret Service says formal planning is underway with the formation of an "Executive Steering Committee" to be made up of senior representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement and public safety partners. The committee reportedly plans to begin convening in the coming weeks.
The special security designation was previously granted to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2020 and the NATO Summit this July.