Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Meeting with Mayor Bowser and Chief Contee

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas met with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J. Contee III today to discuss the ongoing coordination and partnership between federal, state, and local officials in the lead up to the State of the Union address, which has been designated as a National Special Security Event (NSSE), and reports of potential convoys that may be planning to travel to the National Capital Region in the coming weeks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the U.S. Secret Service, is working closely with numerous federal Departments and Agencies and state and local law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of the National Capital Region while also respecting the First Amendment rights of all. DHS will continue to assess the threat environment and share timely and actionable information with the public. Throughout 2021, DHS has worked with federal, state, and local partners to strengthen the security of the National Capital Region. This work includes enhanced intelligence sharing and operational planning, a Critical Incident Response Plan for the U.S. Capitol, and a regional security assessment.