Presidential inaugurations have long been targeted by groups with opposing political views who plan acts of civil disobedience. However, the landscape has evolved, and threats against public officials have significantly increased. Last year, there were notable assassination attempts, including one on Trump’s life and the tragic attack on United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. This has heightened security concerns for Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
In 1998, the National Special Security Event (NSSE) procedures were established to address security gaps identified after the 1996 Olympic bombings. The Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000 explicitly granted the Secret Service authority over large NSSE-declared events, emphasizing interagency coordination.
Given the current environment of threats, the Secret Service must coordinate various resources for the inauguration, including aerial surveillance, access controls, transit, and security sweeps. The Department of Defense plays a crucial role, providing support such as K-9 teams and aviation security.
Interagency intelligence operations, led by the Secret Service, FBI, and local law enforcement, are actively investigating potential threats to the inauguration and high-profile attendees. Special attention will be paid to securing presidential movements on Inauguration Day, with security measures in place at each location Trump is expected to visit.
Despite these challenges, Monday’s inauguration is expected to proceed as a well-planned and secure event under the umbrella of the Secret Service NSSE.
Donald J. Mihalek, a former senior Secret Service agent and regional field training instructor who has served during two presidential transitions, shared his insights on the Secret Service inauguration security ahead of Monday’s event. In addition to his tenure with the Secret Service, Mihalek has a background as a police officer and has served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
It is important to note that the opinions expressed in this article belong to Donald J. Mihalek and do not necessarily reflect the views of ABC News.
In light of the upcoming inauguration, Mihalek provided valuable information on what the public should know about Secret Service security measures for such high-profile events. With his extensive experience in law enforcement and security, Mihalek’s perspective offers a unique and informed outlook on the topic.
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