Record of Determination for the Partial and Temporary Closures of Certain Federal Parkland and Public Use Limitations for a Presidential Press Conference at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, the National Park Service (NPS) is temporarily closing and imposing public use limitations on certain federal parkland administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks in connection with a small private Presidential event in Washington, D.C., on November 2, 2026, expected to be attended by the President of the United States. The United States Secret Service (Secret Service) has requested these restrictions to ensure public safety and the security of the President and other Government officials. The requested security closures are described below and delineated in the Secret Service’s attached map (Enclosure 1).

The Secret Service has determined that the complexity and expected of the event require restrictions before and during the event to conduct security sweeps and screenings to secure designated areas before the President’s arrival. Unless otherwise specified, the restrictions are anticipated to be in effect November 2, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Additional intermittent, short-duration closures may be required during installation and removal of perimeter fencing beginning as early as November 1, 2026, and continuing through the evening of November 2, 2026.

A. Park Road Closures and Parking Restrictions
The following roadways will be subject to temporary vehicular traffic restrictions on Monday, November 2, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., as requested by the Secret Service:

• Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
• Daniel French Drive, SW
• Henry Bacon Drive, NW
• Parkway Drive, NW
• Ohio Drive, SW, from 23rd Street, SW, to Potomac Freeway, NW
• Independence Avenue, SW, between 23rd Street, SW, and 17th Street, SW
• 17th Street, NW, between Constitution Avenue, NW, and Independence Avenue, SW
• Rock Creek and Potomac Freeway, NW, to Virginia Avenue, NW
• 23rd Street, NW to C St. NW
• 23rd Street, SW to Ohio Dr. SW
• Constitution Avenue, between 17th Street, NW, and 23rd Street, NW
• Homefront Drive, SW
• Memorial Bridge

The following locations will be subject to temporary parking restrictions from Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 10:00 p.m., through Monday, November 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.:

• Henry Bacon Drive, NW
• Daniel French Drive, SW, and the dogleg connecting to 23rd Street, SW
• Home Front Drive, SW

The exact timing and implementation of restrictions may change based on operational security needs. Access will be restored as quickly as feasible after the restrictions are no longer necessary and conditions permit.

B. Park Closures and Temporary Restrictions
The following NPS-administered areas will be subject to temporary public access restrictions on November 2, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except that the Washington Monument grounds and sidewalks will be restricted only from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

• Lincoln Memorial Chamber, Undercroft, and adjacent grounds
• Washington Monument grounds and sidewalks
• Lincoln Memorial area, including the Reflecting Pool
• World War II Memorial
• Korean War Memorial
• Henry Bacon Ballfield and Refreshment Stand
• Ash Woods
• Constitution Gardens
• DC War Memorial
• The Lockkeeper’s House
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• John Paul Jones Memorial

These areas are depicted in Enclosure 1 of the Secret Service request. Intermittent, short-duration restrictions may also occur to protect the public during installation and removal of perimeter fencing from November 1 through the evening of November 2, 2026.

C. Justification for Park and Park Road Closures
These temporary closures and public use limitations are based on the November 1, 2026, Secret Service request and security determination. The Secret Service has cited the complexity of the event, the characteristics of the large outdoor venue, and nearby construction affecting security planning. The restrictions are necessary to establish a secure perimeter with sufficient stand-off distance to protect the President, other United States Government officials and invited guests; permit security sweeps and screenings; facilitate arrivals and departures; and restrict unauthorized access. As detailed in the Secret Service’s security assessment, less restrictive measures would not adequately address these protective needs.

The NPS has determined that the temporary and partial closures and public use limitations described above are not of a nature, magnitude, or duration that will result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern of the affected park areas. They do not adversely affect park natural, aesthetic, scenic, or cultural values; require long-term or significant modification of park resource management objectives; or present a highly controversial change in park use. These short-duration measures are intended to preserve public access to the greatest extent consistent with the Secret Service’s protective security requirements.

Accordingly, for both the closures and prohibited items described above, 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. Aug. 29, 2002), pl.’s emergency mot. for inj. pending appeal denied No. 02- 5275 (D.C. Cir. Sept. 9, 2002) (per curiam); Picciotto v. United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C. Aug. 6, 1999); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C. Sept. 9, 1994); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C. Jan. 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 U.S. App. LEXIS 15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure will be made through media advisories, maps, physical barriers, 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.


Jennifer T. Nersesian /s/ 11/1/2026
Regional Director, National Capital Region

 

Secret Service Restricted Area Map