As law enforcement officials brace for potential violent unrest around the inauguration of Joe Biden, the National Mall will reportedly be closed off entirely on Jan. 20.
The National Mall will only be accessible to security officials and journalists covering the inauguration, the Washington Post reported Thursday, citing two sources familiar with the planning. NBC News confirmed the reporting.
The inauguration was already set to be a largely virtual affair amid the coronavirus pandemic that continues to rage across the country. But as the Post and other have pointed out, the National Mall is the main venue for the public to observe the inauguration. Now that option is off the table.
