WASHINGTON - With frigid temperatures expected, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has announced that the 60th Presidential Inauguration will move indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
The change drastically alters plans for the event, limiting in-person attendance and affecting thousands of ticketed guests.
The backstory:
Originally, more than 250,000 ticketed guests were expected to attend the ceremony on the Capitol grounds, with additional crowds planning to watch the parade on Pennsylvania Avenue. However, the new venue, Capital One Arena, will accommodate only around 20,000 attendees.
In a press release, the House Sergeant at Arms confirmed that the majority of ticketed guests will no longer be able to attend the ceremony in person. Most tickets will now serve as commemorative keepsakes.
Members of Congress have been advised to distribute tickets to constituents as they see fit, though seating arrangements for certain ticketed sections are still under review by the JCCIC.
Security plans and access restrictions will remain in place despite the changes. The Secret Service, which oversees security for the inauguration, is working closely with organizers to adapt protocols to the new circumstances.
Visitors and members of Congress have been urged to allow extra time to navigate the grounds.
Big picture view:
Preparations at the National Mall, where tents, viewing structures, and portable restrooms had been installed for the large crowd, are being dismantled.
The last-minute changes reflect similar adjustments made for President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985 when extreme cold forced the ceremony indoors.
President-elect Trump's inaugural address and other speeches will proceed as planned in the Capitol Rotunda.