WASHINGTON (7News) — Preparations for Inauguration Day have begun in D.C. much earlier than usual. 7News is looking into why riot fencing and barriers are already up around the White House.

Law enforcement sources told Reporter John Gonzalez there are more security concerns this election year. Outside of the White House, security measures are already visible nearly 100 days before the inauguration.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) generally begins prep work and logistics well ahead of the inauguration but putting up riot fencing three weeks before the election is very telling. 10-foot fencing and concrete barriers now surround Lafayette Park.

The National Park Service (NPS) said the closures and fencing are in place to make it easier for building materials to be delivered and heavy machinery to be stored. Law enforcement sources told 7News that election day three weeks away is a big factor this year, and officials are concerned that the period between Election Day and Inauguration Day could be extraordinarily tense.

MPD is considering going to what’s called Alpha Bravo 12-hour days starting before the election and continuing through inauguration day. There is also talk in the department about canceling days off during the Election and Inauguration weeks, but nothing is confirmed yet.

READ MORE | Heightened security expected during vote count for 2024 presidential election: DHS

Another law enforcement source said police agencies in the city want security measures in place before the election results are in.

Security and terrorism specialist Jim Ortte said regardless of the winner, protests are highly likely, and terrorism fears are real this fall because of all the world events.

“One of the first times it’s been in October and you have to question why is that? And normally there’s protest on both sides, no matter who wins, there’s going to be some type of protest. But with the world events, to me that’s more concerning. You’ve had three attempts against the former president who is now running for president,” said Ortte. “I suspect that’s why they’re building the security early. There are benefits because then it gives the authorities more time to do investigative and observation techniques. Also, they can study their own design of the barrier and see if they have any lapses.” According to an NPS release, work for the presidential inauguration typically begins in November, but this year, preparation began early “to accommodate additional time needed for a safer and more secure environment for construction activities.”

Parade stands are also going up and Pennsylvania Avenue is being repaved.

7News has learned this fencing will be around until February.

WASHINGTON – As of Tuesday morning, panda-monium is officially back in Washington. 

Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute shortly before noon, after a roughly 19-hour, 8,250-mile trip from Chengdu, China.

One expert on China said the timing – three weeks before the U.S. presidential election – may not be a coincidence.

“I assume that everything is calculated,” said the Stimson Center’s Yun Sun, who added that the panda’s arrival may have been orchestrated with one particular candidate in mind.

“If [former President Donald] Trump wins, the Chinese will be expecting an uphill, tough battle with Trump, at least on trade and most likely on other things as well,” explained Sun. “So, if they decide to send a panda to Washington after Trump wins the election, it will be perceived as China basically paying respect to Trump already or trying to send Trump a gift after he wins the election, so that hopefully Trump will be nicer to China. I don’t think the Chinese want to strike that impression, that China is already acknowledging defeat or trying to play nice with Trump from the very beginning.”

But, she added, she does believe Chinese officials want pandas at the National Zoo.

“Its target audience is all the visitors from all over the country to Washington,” Sun continued. “It will send the message of China’s friendliness, and China’s desire to have friendly ties with American people.”

While the pandas’ arrival in Washington came before the election, it will take some time for them to become acclimated. 

Zoo officials said the pandas will be quarantined for at least 30 days. Bao Li and Qing Bao are expected to make their public debut on January 24, 2025.

The Panda Express has landed! A specially outfitted FedEx plane landed Tuesday morning at Dulles International Airport with some VIP passengers: a pair of 3-year-old pandas who will take up residence at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Bao Li and Qing Bao were born in China. Although the surroundings will be new for both of them, Bao Li’s D.C. roots go deep: He’s a third-generation Washingtonian!

His grandparents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, lived at the National Zoo for nearly a quarter-century and welcomed the zoo’s first-ever surviving panda cubs. The first, Tai Shan, arrived in 2005, but years went by before another was born, and that cub lived for just a week.

The following year, in 2013, a squirming newborn arrived, along with a stillborn twin. But as D.C. held its collective breath, the living cub thrived.

At 100 days old, she was named Bao Bao, and she provided plenty of adorable entertainment for panda fans.

She squawked loudly during vet exams captured on video. (Make sure your volume is up for this one.)

She tumbled (safely — whew!) down a pile of rocks, with her nervous mom hurrying to check on her after the spill.

And she even prolonged the excitement when the National Zoo’s webcam went dark during a government shutdown. When the cams went live again, she had a new surprise: Her eyes had opened.

Maybe it was just us, but Bao Bao always seemed to know when to drum up some attention. She was the source of some adorable headlines. (Case in point: Mei Xiang Cuddles Cub Rather Than Snacking.)

There was a paternity drama — was her biological father the zoo’s own Tian Tian, or another male panda whose sperm was also used in a fertility attempt? (Verdict: Tian Tian IS the father.)

And just before Christmas 2014, Bao Bao spent 24 hours in a tree, diverting focus from holiday celebrations before she finally climbed down.

But after becoming a big sister, Bao Bao was ready to strike out on her own.

Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images

She moved to China in 2017 and became a mom, including to a set of twins born there in 2021. One of those twins was Bao Li. Now, he’s made the journey for himself.

However, the public will have to wait a bit longer to visit the zoo’s newest residents.

Bao Li and Qing Bao are expected to be quarantined for at least 30 days, and they’ll also need time to get settled in and acclimated to their new surroundings before the panda exhibit reopens to the public. There’s no exact date set yet for that.