The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) will be increasing security measures on January 6, 2025, in preparation for the upcoming Electoral College vote count at the Capitol. This date has been designated a National Special Security Event, allowing for significant resources from the federal government, as well as state and local partners, to be utilized in a comprehensive security plan. The USSS will serve as the lead agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan. The heightened security measures were requested by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, marking the first time this designation has been granted for a Certification of Electoral Votes.
The presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025, was previously designated a National Special Security Event. Various reports, including from the House Select January 6 Committee and the Government Accountability Office, had called for the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to consider this designation for future Certification of Electoral Votes. Special Agent Eric Ranaghan, in charge of the USSS’s Dignitary Protective Division, emphasized the national significance of the event and the commitment of the USSS and its partners to ensure the safety and security of the event and its participants.
An Executive Steering Committee comprised of senior representatives from federal, state, and local law enforcement and public safety partners will convene to begin the formal planning process for the security measures. The request for heightened security was made in direct response to the events of January 6, 2021, when thousands of supporters of former President Trump stormed the Capitol in protest of the Electoral College vote. The USSS is committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated security plan to prevent a similar situation from occurring during the upcoming Electoral College vote count.
In an interview on Tuesday night, former President Trump denied any involvement with the events of January 6, 2021, stating that he “had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech.” The USSS and its partners are taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the upcoming Electoral College vote count is conducted safely and securely. The increased security measures are a response to the violence and chaos that erupted in 2021, with the goal of preventing a similar situation from occurring during the upcoming event.
The USSS’s role as the lead agency for the security plan for the Electoral College vote count underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and security of this critical event. The designation of January 6, 2025, as a National Special Security Event highlights the significance of this electoral process and the need for heightened security measures. The collaboration between federal, state, and local partners reflects a coordinated effort to protect the participants of the event and prevent any potential threats or disruptions. With the formal planning process underway, the USSS and its partners are working diligently to implement a comprehensive security plan that will safeguard the integrity of the Electoral College vote count.
