1. First Division Park, to include interior sidewalks (the west sidewalk on 17th Street, NW, can remain open to pedestrian traffic); 2. Sherman Park, to include interior sidewalks (the east sidewalk on 15th Street, NW, can remain open to pedestrian traffic); 3. E Street, NW, from 15th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW, to include the sidewalks along the above-mentioned parks, the south fence line of the White House grounds, and the area surrounding the Zero Milestone; and 4. The entire Ellipse, to include the interior sidewalks and roadways (the western sidewalk of 15th Street, NW; the eastern sidewalk of 17th Street, NW, and the northern sidewalk of Constitution Avenue NW may remain open to pedestrians). The National Park Service is also imposing a public use limitation and will not allow into the event: •Laptops, Tripods, Monopods, Smart Glasses, and Selfie Sticks *If an invited guest arrives with a tablet, they will be redirected to the X-ray line for screening and then permitted entry with the tablet.
•Large Bags and Suitcases exceeding size restrictions (18” x 13” x 7”) •Packages •Drones and other Unmanned Aircraft Systems •Animals other than service/guide dogs •Bicycles, Scooters, Folding Chairs, Balloons, Coolers, Glass, Thermal or Metal Containers, Paint •Umbrellas (umbrellas without metal tips will be permitted) •Pointed Objects, to include knives of any kind •Aerosols, Tobacco Products, e-Cigarettes, Lighters, Matches •Firearms, Ammunition, Fireworks, Laser Pointers, Stun Guns, Tasers, Mace/Pepper Spray, Toy Weapons •Tents and Structures •Any Other Items Determined to be Potential Safety Hazards Violation is prohibited. As detailed in the Secret Service’s request, which is attached and incorporated by reference, “these temporary restrictions [are to] be put in place sufficiently in advance of the event to permit Secret Service personnel to secure the area in advance of the arrival of the invited guests, and that the restrictions be lifted after the conclusion of the event. These temporary restrictions are necessary to provide a secure staging area as well as a secure perimeter with sufficient stand-off distance to protect the area in conjunction with the event on the grounds of the White House. The temporary closures are also necessary to permit the Secret Service to perform security sweeps of the area, to facilitate security screening of the guests, to separate screened individuals from those who have not been subject to security screening, and to restrict access to the White House grounds. Further, given the nature of these events, the Secret Service has determined that there are no less restrictive measures that would adequately provide for the safety of the event attendees, the public, as well as the security of the White House Complex.” The Secret Service’s letter also advised that the “exact times are subject to change, based upon the evolving schedule of the events; however, the Secret Service will notify you as soon as practicable of any changes in dates and times or if these restrictions are no longer necessary.” It is the intention of the National Park Service to open these park areas to the general public as soon as the Secret Service advises that it is safe to do so. The National Park Service has determined that lesser restrictive measures will not suffice based on the Secret Service’s security-based assessment that these park areas need to be closed to the general public during this time. This temporary and partial closure is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern” given the temporary nature of these closures and the existence of other available park and non-park areas that remain open to the public including areas of Lafayette Park, the National Mall, McPherson Square and other nearby park areas. Further, the closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic, or cultural values and is not of a highly controversial nature. Accordingly, the National Park Service determines publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c). 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 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. /s/ John Stanwich, NPS Liaison to the White House National Capital Region October 15, 2026 |
Last updated: October 26, 2026