Jan. 6, 2025, certification designated for Secret Service protection

The Department of Homeland Security has designated the Jan. 6, 2025, vote certification an event worthy of Secret Service planning and protection, buttressing security after the certification of 2020's election results was halted by a mob of supporters of then-President Trump.

Designating the electoral vote counting as a “national security special event” puts the Secret Service in charge of security planning, just as it does for the Super Bowl and both parties’ political conventions.

“National Special Security Events are events of the highest national significance,” Eric Ranaghan, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Dignitary Protective Division, said in a release.

“The U.S. Secret Service, in collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated security plan to ensure the safety and security of this event and its participants.”

Doing so follows the recommendations of the House’s now-disbanded Jan. 6 committee and comes at the request of Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.

It also comes as Trump declined to say during Tuesday’s debate whether he had any regrets about the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

He instead lamented the fate of his many supporters that stormed the Capitol and then quickly pivoted to talking about the border.

Pressed again, he minimized his involvement, saying, “I had nothing to do with that other than, they asked me to make a speech. I showed up for a speech.” 

Capitol Police will also be involved in security planning and preparations, and unlike in the lead-up to the 2021 counting, the police chief can now directly request National Guard assistance.