Washington, Jan 12 (IANS): US President Donald Trump has approved an emergency declaration for Washington, D.C., through January 24, covering the date of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20.
"Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the District's response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from the 59th Presidential Inauguration from January 11 to January 24, 2021," the Office of the White House Press Secretary said in a statement late Monday.
The emergency declaration authorised the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate resources with state and local authorities, and came as Washington braced for heightened possibility of violence in the lead-up to and during Biden's inauguration.
The declaration was in response to a letter sent to Trump on Sunday by Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who had already declared a 15-day public emergency for the capital city shortly after pro-Trump demonstrators stormed the Capitol on January 6.
"In light of the attack on the Capitol and intelligence suggesting further violence is likely during the Inaugural period, my administration has re-evaluated our preparedness posture for the Inauguration, including requesting the extension of D.C. National Guard support through January 24, 2021," Bowser wrote in the letter.
"I have determined that the plans and resources previously assigned to the Inauguration are insufficient to establish a safe and secure environment as a direct result of the insurrectionist actions that occurred on January 6.
"Based on recent events and intelligence assessments, we must prepare for large groups of trained and armed extremists to come to Washington, D.C," the Mayor added
On Monday, Bowser was joined by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan in urging people to stay away from inaugural events, citing "last week's violent insurrection as well as the ongoing and deadly Covid-19 pandemic".
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned about plans of armed protests from January 16 through January 20 at all the 50 state capitols, and from January 17 through January 20 at the US Capitol in Washington D.C.