Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, the National Park Service will implement a dynamic, as requested by the United States Secret Service (USSS), temporary closure and public use limitation of certain streets, sidewalks, and parklands on and surrounding the Washington Monument Grounds at various times from July 27, 2026, to August 31, 2026. The exact times are subject to change based upon the evolving schedule of the events. Closures and public use restrictions will be delineated in the map below and as further delineated by USSS or U.S. Park Police presence, and other physical barriers.
Specifically, there will be temporary closures and restricted public access to the northern portion of the Washington Monument Grounds (to include the interior sidewalks); the southern sidewalk of Constitution Avenue NW between 15th Street NW and 17th Street NW; the eastern sidewalk of 17th Street, NW from Constitution Ave NW to the World War II Memorial; and the western sidewalk of 15th Street, NW from Constitution Ave NW to the Washington Monument. The restricted areas are depicted in the enclosed map (Enclosure 1).
These temporary closures and restrictions are at the request of the USSS and based on the information provided by the USSS that these closures are necessary to ensure the safety of the President, U.S. government officials, and the public. Less restrictive measures will not suffice due to the security-based assessment of the USSS that this park area needs to be kept clear. A copy of the USSS letter and map dated and received on July 25, 2026, is attached and incorporated by reference.
This temporary public use limit is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern.” Other nearby park areas will remain open, this closure will not impact any permitted events, and the closure will only last for the time that law enforcement agencies have determined is necessary to provide for public safety and resource protection. Furthermore, the closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic or cultural values and is not of a highly controversial nature, as evidenced by the lack of any requests to utilize the area to be closed. Comparable closures and public use limits are commonplace when necessary to provide for the protection of the park and public. 1
Accordingly, the National Park Service determines publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(b). This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures or public use limitations, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications. Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-1715 (D.D.C. August 29, 2002), plaintiff’s emergency motion for injunction pending appeal denied Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02- 5275 (D.C. Cir. September 9, 2002) (per curiam); Picciotto v. United States, No. 99 2113 (D.D.C. August 6, 1999); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C. September 9, 1994); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C. January 26, 1988); Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F.Supp. 402 (D.D.C. 1994), aff'd in part w/o op. 56 F.3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995), reported in full, 1995 US App. Lexis 15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure and public use limit will be made though media advisories, maps, fencing, and by posting at conspicuous locations in the affected park areas. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request.
Michael Commisso, Deputy Superintendent /s/ 7/30/26
