The Trump administration has proposed permanently fencing off Lafayette Park—the seven-acre green space directly north of the White House—citing security concerns and citing potential trip hazards from loose bricks. Critics, including long-time protesters like Donna Powell and Marty Pearl, warn the move would severely restrict public protest access at one of the nation’s most iconic symbolic locations. Though temporary fencing was installed in January for landscaping ahead of the U.S. semicentennial, it remains in place months past the stated May deadline, fueling suspicion the closure is becoming permanent. The 79-page proposal, submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts, includes 8–9-foot fencing and granite repaving to prevent projectiles while maintaining historical aesthetics.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/16/nx-s1-5893465/dc-lafayette-square-park-permanent-fencing-proposal