Yahoo Finance Pence to Attend Biden’s Inauguration, But at What Cost?
Most people have had to forego extravagant events, or even small parties, since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Concerts, birthday parties and even weddings faced cancellations in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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While Washington, D.C. has vastly scaled back the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration, the event will go on, with in-person attendance limited to members of Congress, each of whom may bring one guest. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence has reported that he will attend the inauguration, in contrast to President Trump, who tweeted that he would not be going shortly before Twitter permanently suspended his account. Biden told The New York Times that Pence was “welcome” at the event and his presence would help ease the transition.
The inauguration and related activities that go along with the transfer of power, like so many happenings in 2020, will be live-streamed on multiple networks and streaming services for people to view. Biden’s inaugural committee chair, Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), told The Washington Post that 75% to 80% of the inaugural activities on Jan. 20 will be virtual.
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Even so, the inauguration will carry a hefty price tag. And right now, District of Columbia leaders and Congress are squabbling over who will foot the bill. Back in December, the District requested that Congress allocate $45 million to cover inauguration activities, including a not-so-small, but very necessary, security contingent at the swearing-in ceremony. Traditionally, the federal government pays for these expenses, while the District covers law enforcement, first responders, transportation and communication.
Sources speculate that this year’s inauguration should cost quite a bit less than the in-person galas of previous years. In July, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies approved a $1.5 million budget for the event. However, that amount is only to cover the brief swearing-in ceremony and not other happenings.
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Even with scaled-back virtual celebrations, increases in spending for crowd control, security and law enforcement could add up to a hefty sum this year. “The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
As such, more than 6,000 National Guard troops have been called in to support Capitol Police, tall fences were erected around Capitol grounds and the National Nuclear Security Administration has had helicopters with state-of-the-art technology patrolling the area. These measures are expected to continue through Inauguration Day.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Pence to Attend Biden’s Inauguration, But at What Cost?
