At approximately 12 PM Eastern Standard Time on Monday, January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States for his second non-consecutive term as the Leader of the Free World. As with any Presidential Inauguration, security measures around the Washington D.C. area were heightened. However, due to intelligence assessments and the assassination attempts on President Trump in July and September of 2024, security for this year’s inauguration was greatly enhanced.

On January 17, 2025, a ceremony swearing in an additional 8,000 National Guard soldiers as Special Deputy United States Marshals took place, providing these officers from around the country with special clearance to protect and serve within the National Capital Region. That same day, in response to forecasted poor weather conditions, President Trump announced that the Inaugural Ceremonies would be moved indoors to the United States Capitol Rotunda. While strategically the rotunda provided a more secure setting, security measures throughout the Capitol were still tight.

Such measures included a massive razor-wire security fence stretching close to 30 miles around the Capitol and a presence of more than 25,000 military and police members. But perhaps one of the most unique forms of security in place was the broad use of drones. While drones being used by police and military for crowd security is nothing new, it is for the Nation’s Capital. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airspace within Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas is the most highly restricted airspace in the country. The FAA doesn’t allow drones to be flown over any federal buildings, which makes flying a drone in D.C. nearly impossible.

In advance of the National Special Security Events, the Secret Service worked with the FAA to gain exemptions to allow drones to be flown for the inaguration. “The U.S. Secret Service will use unmanned aerial vehicles as part of our security plans for this month’s National Special Security Events, and the public may see these assets operating both before and during these events,” said Secret Service spokesman Nate Herring. “The Secret Service and our local, state, and federal partners [will] employ a multitude of seen and unseen security measures operating in tandem to ensure comprehensive and seamless security plans.”

The FAA’s drone restrictions include Arlington, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C. across the Potomac River. There are some areas of Arlington where drone use with special permission is permitted, but for the most part, because of its proximity to the capital, drones are prohibited from being flown there. However, the County of Arlington announced that they too would be working with the FAA to increase security presence for the inauguration. A county spokesperson said that Arlington Police and regional law enforcement partners “will operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, at various locations throughout Arlington County.”

The announcement was used to inform the public of the presence of drones between the hours of 6 AM and 10 PM on January 20, 2025. After the drone hysteria that took place throughout the New Jersey region during the holiday season, Arlington County wanted to make sure the public was aware of this planned increase in drone activity. While the presence of the drones was announced, the county said that for security reasons, they would not be disclosing the locations where the drones would be in use. “The safety and security of the residents, visitors, and businesses of the National Capital Region remains our top priority,” the announcement concluded.

President Trump’s inauguration was arguably the most secure ever for an incoming president. Explaining what people could expect to see, William McCool, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Washington Field Office, said, “They will see tactical teams. They’ll see CDU (Counter Drones Unit) units. They’ll see officers and agents on rooftops. They’ll see checkpoints. They’ll see road closures and concrete barriers. We have adequate resources to quell any disturbances.” The 2025 Presidential Inauguration marked an unprecedented level of security, reflecting the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its leaders and citizens. With enhanced measures, including the use of drones and a vast military presence, the event demonstrated the evolving nature of security protocols in an era of heightened threats. As President Trump began his second term, the collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies ensured that the nation’s capital remained secure, allowing the ceremony to proceed smoothly despite the challenges posed by the complex security environment.

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