1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

As a constituent, I am asking you to publicly oppose the Trump administration’s plan for permanent fencing on Pennsylvania Avenue and around Lafayette Square, and to demand that any final decision go through open, accountable review rather than being finalized behind closed doors. According to reporting by the Washington Post and CBS News, the administration and Secret Service are discussing permanent fences at 15th and 17th Streets NW, giving officials the ability to close off Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Square whenever they decide there is a security risk. The plan has not been finalized and is still awaiting President Trump’s approval, but it would affect one of the most historic and heavily used public spaces in the country — the sightline to the White House and a longstanding site for political protest. Security is a legitimate concern; Secret Service officials have raised it before, and the president has faced real threats. But past administrations rejected permanent fencing here specifically because of what it would cost the public: unobstructed access to view and gather near the White House, and a public protest space with a century of history. A permanent barrier that officials can close at will is a different thing than the temporary security measures used for events, and it deserves scrutiny before it becomes a fixture. I am asking you to: 1. Publicly request a full briefing from the Secret Service and DHS on the necessity, cost, and legal basis for permanent fencing, and oppose the plan moving forward without that review. 2. Press for the plan to go through public comment or relevant oversight, given its impact on protest access and a historic public space, rather than being approved administratively. Your public position on this will factor into how I evaluate your service. Please respond and let me know the specific steps you intend to take.