Fencing installed around the US Capitol for enhanced security following the deadly January 6 insurrection is starting to come down as of Friday.
The removal is likely to take approximately three days to be completed.
However, visits to the Capitol Building will remain restricted after the take down.
The fencing was set up in the wake of the storming of the Capitol on January 6 by a pro-Donald Trump mob who attempted to overturn President Joe Biden‘s election victory and block its certification by Congress.
The attack resulted in the death of five people, including a Capitol Police officer. More than 100 officers were also injured.
Acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman in January called for permanent fencing around the complex due to security concerns following the Capitol riot.
In late March, the US Capitol Police (USCP) removed the fencing around the perimeter of the Capitol complex, but the inner perimeter fence surrounding the Capitol Building was still in place.
DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced a bill in February to stop the fencing from becoming permanent.
Residents of Capitol Hill campaigned for the removal of fences around the Capitol through a Change.org petition, which collected over 30,000 signatures, and street protests were held for the same purpose.