Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the “No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act” on Tuesday. The proposed legislation seeks to prevent the permanent installation of security barriers that were originally erected as a temporary response to the January 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol.

Proponents of the bill argue that the Capitol complex serves as a symbol of democracy and should remain an open, accessible space for the public rather than a fortified compound. The lawmakers contend that permanent fencing would create an unnecessary divide between the government and the citizens it represents.

While the bill focuses on the aesthetic and symbolic accessibility of the grounds, the conversation surrounding Capitol security remains complex. Security officials have previously suggested that permanent barriers could be a necessary component of modern threat mitigation, though this specific legislation aims to codify a policy of openness. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, and it remains to be seen how it will be received by colleagues who prioritize heightened security measures in the wake of recent political violence.