据一名白宫官员透露，白宫北门廊目前正在进行安全升级施工。
这位官员表示，这项针对宾夕法尼亚大道1600号主入口的工程属于“安全强化与升级项目”，预计在9月中旬左右完工。目前暂未公开本次安全升级的具体内容。
施工现场被大型防水布完全遮盖，布面上印有门廊立柱和灯具的图案，以此模拟原有建筑外观，保持视觉上的协调。
在本次新安全项目启动前，白宫正面的相关施工就已经在推进中。6月底，白宫正门周边的立柱区域搭起了脚手架，当时白宫官员称这是“常规修复工程”，主要对石材立柱进行维护修缮。
此外，据美国美术委员会提交的规划文件显示，特朗普政府正提出一项新方案，以安全风险为由，计划用围栏将拉斐特公园甚至白宫门前的宾夕法尼亚大道圈围起来。
规划文件中说明：“该方案的设计思路将采用隐蔽式围栏、监控系统和报警装置，在保障日常开放的同时，也能在必要时实现临时封闭。”方案给出了多套备选方案，计划在拉斐特公园周边、甚至可能延伸至宾夕法尼亚大道沿线，设置高度为8至9英尺的防攀爬永久围栏。
美术委员会将在7月16日的会议上对该提案进行讨论。规划指出，目前用于封闭公园、禁止游客进入的临时围栏和自行车路障，从长期来看“不具备可持续性”。
方案同时提到，拉斐特公园和宾夕法尼亚大道是公众聚集示威的“核心地点”，曾发生过部分集会升级为非和平示威的情况。文件补充说明：“安装固定牢固的永久围栏可实现区域隔离，有助于缓和多数潜在的暴力抗议活动。”
自特朗普重返总统职位以来，他已在白宫区域推进了多项改造工程。白宫南草坪上，一座供“海军陆战队一号”使用的花岗岩直升机停机坪正在建设中。特朗普上周宣布，这座耗资数百万美元的停机坪将由洛克希德·马丁旗下的西科斯基航空公司全额出资建造。
特朗普对白宫的改造还包括去年拆除东翼建筑，为新建一座大型白宫宴会厅腾出空间。该项目目前正面临法律诉讼，特朗普将其描述为未来历任总统的“安全屏障与堡垒”。
他还填平了白宫玫瑰园的草坪，改造成带休闲桌椅的露台，同时在南草坪和北草坪各竖立了一根巨型旗杆。此外，他在西翼长廊的历任总统肖像下方加装了纪念铭牌，将这条通道命名为“总统星光大道”。
部分改造项目引发了反对声浪。美国国家历史保护信托基金会曾提起诉讼，要求叫停白宫宴会厅的建设，一名联邦地区法院法官也曾下达停工令，但目前该禁令已被暂停，等待上诉法院对案件的进一步审理。
White House entrance undergoing 'security enhancements and upgrades'
Security enhancements are underway on the North Portico of theWhite House, according to a White House official.
The work to the entrance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is for "security enhancements and upgrades," the official said, and is expected to be finished around mid-September.
It's not yet clear what the security enhancements entail.
The project has been covered up by large tarps that have columns and a lamp printed on the side to mimic the existing portico.
The new security project comes as work was already being done to the front face of the White House.
In late June, scaffolding went up around the columns around the front door of the building, which a White House official said at the time is "standard restoration work" to repair the stone columns.
Separately, the Trump administration is proposing a project that would fence off Lafayette Park and possibly even Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House citing security risks, according to aplan submissionfrom the Commission of Fine Arts.
"The concept approach may include discreet fencing, monitoring systems, and alarms, applied in a way that preserves day-to-day openness while enabling temporary closures when required," according to the plan submission, which includes multiple options for permanent 8 or 9-foot non-scalable fencing around Lafayette Park and possibly even Pennsylvania Avenue.
The commission is to discuss the proposal at a meeting on July 16.
The plan pointed to the current temporary fencing and bike racks that have been installed to close off the park to visitors, but said those temporary measures are "not sustainable" in the long-term.
The plan also said that Lafayette Park and Pennsylvania Avenue are a "focal point" for the public to gather for demonstrations. They said that there have been assemblies that "elevate into non-peaceful demonstration."
"A permanent fence that is properly anchored would provide separation which would assist in de-escalating most potentially violent protest," the plan added.
The Trump administration has undertaken several other projects around the People's House since the president returned to office.
On the South Lawn, a granite helipad is currently being constructed for Marine One. Trumpannounced last weekthe multimillion-dollar helipad would be paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin.
Trump's transformation of the White House also includes demolishing the East Wing last year to make way for construction of his massive White House ballroom. Trump has described the project, which faces legal challenges,as a "shield"and fortress for future presidents.
Trump has also paved over the grass at the White House Rose Garden to create a patio with tables, and erected two massive flagpoles on the North and South lawns.He also installed plaques underneath portraits of presidents along the West Wing Colonnade, dubbed the "Presidential Walk of Fame."
Some of the projects have drawn opposition. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to block construction of the White House ballroom, and a U.S. District Court judge issued an order halting work -- but that order was later put on hold as an appeals courthears the case.
