WASHINGTON – Ahead of the January inauguration, D.C. leaders say they are committed to the peaceful transfer of power and the security measures they have been tasked to handle.

At a briefing Tuesday, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said her team and other partners have been planning for the January 20 inauguration since mid-summer. 

Agencies across the country have been intentional about supporting D.C. law enforcement, Chief Smith said.

“We hope we can get to 4,000 police officers to assist us in this process. We are close to that number. We do have other agencies who are continuing to reach out to us. As they reach out, we will accept their request to provide mutual aid support for the District of Columbia during the inauguration process,” Smith said Tuesday.

Along with the January 20 inauguration, the 2025 Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes has been set for January 6.

“Certainly, working with the D.C. government agencies [including] fire and EMS, OUC, which are the parameters and nerve center here for the District of Columbia, we continue to prepare with our internal agencies on a regular basis,” Smith said. “With our federal partners, we have been meeting on a bi-weekly basis. Sometimes, a weekly basis to determine what intelligence information that may arise, not just in D.C. but across the U.S.”

Smith added Tuesday, that the department is also tracking other potentially large-scale events.

“Currently, we’re tracking I think four major…if you want to call it…major events as it relates to First Amendment activity. As you know, this is nothing new to the MPD. We handle large protests and demonstrations, not just coming on the heels of a January 6th certification of the elections and inauguration, but we do this year-round,” she said. “We signed up for this job. We understand the risks are and what’s associated with this, and as with any protests and demonstrations, we will be prepared to address what comes with that.”

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office, there are questions surrounding what a second Trump term could look like for the district. D.C. Mayor Muriel said her office has requested a meeting with the president-elect.

“We have been discussing and planning for many months in the case that the District has to defend itself and its values on all regards. In terms of what we should know is that we’re still a country of laws and the district has home rule and the congress could change it, they could. It is possible. That is probably, as you mentioned, not a likely occurrence,” Mayor Bowser said. “What I think is important for all DC residents to recognize, we’re not in a new place. We’ve been in this place before. What we have done, is we have followed the law and we defended ourselves and that would be our approach in any further occurrence.”

‘Home rule’  refers to the law signed in 1973 by President Richard Nixon, which created a local government for Washington, D.C. It granted DC residents the ability to elect a mayor and council, but Congress retained the power to overrule local legislation and D.C. residents remained without a vote in Congress. 

Trump has also been vocal on the intention to overhaul federal departments and agencies by firing “corrupt actors in [the] National Security and Intelligence apparatus” and moving as many as 100,000 government positions out of D.C.

Bowser said some of those are not in D.C. proper and would welcome a meeting on the federal workforce.

“There is a lot that our region offers to attract and retain and have a productive federal workforce, so we’re going to make our pitch,” she said Tuesday.

On inauguration safety, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service released the following statement to FOX 5 on Tuesday:

“We continue to work closely with our law enforcement and public safety partners as we plan for the 2025 Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes on Jan. 6, and the 2025 Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20, both of which have been designated National Special Security Events. More details, including the security perimeter and road closures, will be released a few weeks prior to each event.”

We share the best things to do every weekend in The Weekend Scene newsletter – it’s completely free to subscribe!

It’s a big weekend if you like theater and live comedy or holiday lights displays!

Also, the Washington Spirit are back in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs for the first time since winning the championship in 2021. You can watch the semifinal match at Audi Field on Saturday.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

The Second City’s Dance Like There’s Black People Watching: Through Dec. 22, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Northwest, $64+

The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture: Open into September 2025, Smithsonian American Art Museum, free

Musical: “Six”: Through Dec. 1, National Theatre, $119+

Gifted Week in honor of Wale Day: Through Nov. 17, various events in the D.C. area

Cry n’ Vibe: Tues., 5:30-8 p.m., Southwest Library (or live on TikTok), free

Chocolate & Wine Tasting: Exquisite Chocolates & Truffles, Wine from Spain: Weds., 7-8:30 p.m., The Chocolate House (1904 18th Street NW), $55

Umbrella Art Fair: Fri. to Sun., Dock 5 at Union Market, free but RSVP required

Comedy: Julie Kim: Fri. to Sat., DC Improv, $22

Comedy: Tinder Live with Lane Moore: Fri., doors at 6:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, $35

Washington Spirit vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC in semifinals: Sat., noon, Audi Field, $21+

Meet the Makers Food and Beverage Expo: Sat., 3-6 p.m., Union Kitchen Eckington (1625 Eckington Place NE), $17.50-$31

Sounds of US: An Immersive New Music Festival: Sat., The Kennedy Center, free programming on the REACH, main stage tickets cost $20

Last chance: Twilight Zone: Hidden Wonders of the Ocean at ARTECHOUSE: Through Nov. 19, 1238 Maryland Ave SW, $25+ for adults

What to do in Maryland

Strathmore Museum Shop Holiday Market: Thurs. to Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Mansion (10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda), $10 suggested donation

ICE! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas”: Nov. 15 to Dec. 28, Gaylord National at National Harbor, $26.99+

Wale: Fri., MGM National Harbor, $82+

Community Tree Planting: Sat., 8:30 a.m. to noon, Suitland Metro Station, free

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade: Sat., 10 a.m., Veterans Plaza, free

Holiday Movies on the Potomac – “The Grinch (2000)”: Sun., National Harbor, free

What to do in Virginia

Winter Walk of Lights: Through Jan. 5, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, $18-$22

Bull Run Festival of Lights: Nov. 15 to Jan. 4, Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, $30 per vehicle

Ice & Lights-The Winter Village at Cameron Run: Nov. 15 to Feb. 23 (ice skating opens Nov. 29), Alexandria, Virginia, $8.55+

Alexandria Clay Co-Op’s Holiday Ceramics Sale: Fri. and Sat., 2389 South Dove Street, Alexandria, $20 on Friday (benefitting World Central Kitchen) or free entry on Saturday

DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival: Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, $14+

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour: Sat., 10-11 a.m.,

Thanksgiving wine tasting: Sat., 3-5 p.m., Wine Gallery 108 in Alexandria, $30

Astronomy Festival: Sat., 5 p.m., Turner Farm Park Observatory, $10

“I’ll Take You There: Stax Records Co.”: Through Nov. 24, Signature Theatre in Arlington, $46+

10th Annual Workhouse Glass International: Through Jan. 12, Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, free

Coming up soon

Downtown DC Holiday Market: Nov. 22 to Dec. 23, F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, free entry

ZooLights: Nov. 22 to Jan. 4, National Zoo, $6 per guest age 2 and up

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom is meeting with the Biden administration this week in Washington, D.C. to seek more protections for California policies before the Trump administration takes over. 

Just last week, Newsom called for state lawmakers to convene a special session next month to safeguard the state’s progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. 

Newsom spoke over Zoom on Friday about his plans to prepare for another Trump presidency. 

“I think he’s going to come harder. He’s going to come faster, executive orders day one. We’re taking him at his word,” Newsom said. 

One of the highest-profile California policies in jeopardy is the 2035 ban on new gas-powered car sales.

“This is where California is most vulnerable, on transportation emissions,” said Ethan Elkind, director of the UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy and the Environment. 

Elkind noted that Trump has openly opposed California’s plan to allow only zero-emission new car sales starting in 2035. 

“That’s why we’re up to almost 30% of new vehicle sales in the state are electric,” Elkind said. 

Besides that zero-emission vehicle policy, California is also seeking federal waivers on setting new requirements on zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, off-road vehicles, construction equipment, and buildings. 

“We are not naive about what to anticipate,” Newsom said. 

In 2019, Trump revoked California’s ability to enforce its own tailpipe emissions limits. This was later restored by President Biden’s administration and was upheld in federal court.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers in California are watching closely to see the impact of Newsom’s visit to the nation’s capital. 

“So this is just the opening salvo and, of course, they’re going to trade some blows here,” state Senator Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) said. “I expect them to fight a lot more in public and then get a lot more done behind the scenes.” 

“It’s a great opportunity, and the Democrats — Gavin Newsom at the top — are kind of squandering it if they’re going to immediately start with a confrontational approach,” Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said. 

Besides vehicles, President-elect Trump could also cut federal funding for the California high-speed rail project. The Biden administration had awarded $3 billion to it earlier this year. 

“Trust me. We’ve got a lot up our sleeves,” Newsom said. “We’re not done by any stretch.”