Record of Determination for the temporary restriction of access to certain areas of the National Mall and Memorial Parks associated with presidential movement on September 8, 2026

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, the National Park Service (NPS) will implement the following closure of certain designated parklands and sidewalks at the National Mall and Memorial Parks as delineated in Enclosure 1 on September 8, 2026.

Due to the unique security requirements associated with protecting the President of the United States, the United States Secret Service (Secret Service) has requested temporary restrictions on public access to certain park lands under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. These temporary restrictions are necessary to establish a secure perimeter with adequate stand-off distance to ensure the safety of the President, U.S. government officials, and the public. Violation is prohibited.

Park Area and Sidewalk Closures
The National Park Service will temporarily restrict public access to the following areas within its jurisdiction:
• Washington Monument Grounds, including the interior sidewalks and Washington Monument to tours.
• Northern and southern sidewalks of Constitution Avenue NW between 15th Street NW and 17th Street NW.
• Eastern sidewalk of 17th Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to the World War II Memorial.
• Western sidewalk of 15th Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to Jefferson Drive SW.

The areas to be closed are reflected in Attachment 1 to this Record of Determination.

The temporary restrictions are anticipated to be in effect on September 8, 2026, from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The restrictions will begin sufficiently in advance of the President’s movements to permit Secret Service personnel to secure the areas and will remain in effect until the conclusion of the presidential movement. Exact times are subject to change based upon the evolving schedule of the events; the Secret Service will notify NPS as soon as practicable of any changes in dates and times or if the restrictions are no longer necessary. These restrictions do not apply to NPS employees or contractors performing their duties, though the Secret Service may temporarily restrict their movements within the restricted area as needed to fulfill its mission.

Determination

The Secret Service has informed the NPS, and on that basis the NPS determines, that these temporary restrictions are necessary to provide for the safety and security of the President, U.S. government officials, and the public during the presidential movement. This temporary and limited closure is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern of the park area; it will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic, scenic or cultural values; it does not require a long-term or significant modification in resource management objectives; and it is not of a highly controversial nature. To the contrary, the restrictions are limited temporally and geographically to the areas identified by the Secret Service as strictly necessary for the Secret Service to fulfill its protective mission, impacting only a small portion of National Mall and Memorial Parks, and will be lifted when the security need concludes. Temporary and limited closures such as these, for the Secret Service to protect the President and other government officials in the White House area, are common and expected by the public rather than controversial.

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 through media advisories, maps, 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.

Kevin L. Griess /s/ 9/8/2026
Superintendent

 

Washington Monument Grounds Closure