First the draping, now permanent fencing. 

The Trump administrationplans to erect new fences on the ends of Pennsylvania Avenue NW outside the White House, according to three people who spoke to the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

That specific stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue, directly in front of the White House, offers the closest view of the building for pedestrians, has long drawn visitors from around the world, and is used by protesters for a wide array of legal political protests.

The official process for making changes to the executive building can often stretch for months or years, although the commissions — now led by Trump allies — have rushed several of the president’s projects. Think: Kennedy Center.

Secret Service officials have suggested adding more permanent fencing around the White House in the past, but those requests were always met with pushback and concerns that it would limit the public’s access, or appearance of access, to the building. 

They have been using temporary fencing to shut down the area when needed, and Trump has pushed-back the White House facade into Lafayette Park across the street (see image below) and already plans to build new, permanent fencingaround all of Lafayette Square.