White House security incident raises pressure for reforms
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has used the most recent security incident recorded near the White House to intensify pressure for the continuation of renovations at the official residence of the American government.
The project envisages the construction of a ballroom valued at US$400 million, under which a new security bunker would be built.
The incident occurred on Saturday (23), when a man opened fire on US Secret Service agents at a checkpoint at the official residence on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street, close to the White House.
The attacker was killed by the agents. Trump was in the White House at the time of the incident, although it is not known exactly which wing of the residence he was in.
Controversial work and judicial resistance
To make the project viable, an entire wing of the White House - the east wing, which housed offices, including those of the first lady - was demolished. Historical heritage protection associations in the United States are challenging the legality of the work in court, alleging that consultation procedures with these entities were not followed before demolitions began.
Despite resistance, the White House argues that the work must continue for safety reasons.
White House without bunker at this time
The original White House bunker, known by the acronym PEOC (President's Emergency Operations Center), was built during World War II and demolished along with the east wing when work on the ballroom began.
According to CNN International editor Diego Pavão, there was an understanding among United States defense leadership that the structure was obsolete, especially in the face of modern threats, such as drones and ground-penetrating bombs, known as "bunker busters".
With the demolition, the White House currently has no operational bunker. In case of emergency, Trump would be evacuated by helicopter or by Air Force One. The new project envisages that the ballroom will function as an armored structure, resistant to air attacks and drones, also serving as a shield for the bunker to be built below it.
The April incident, when gunshots were recorded at the hotel where Trump was attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner, was also cited as a factor that reinforces the urgency of the works.
The texts generated by artificial intelligence on CNN Brasil are made based on video cuts from the newspapers in its programming. All information is investigated and checked by journalists. The final text is also reviewed by the CNN journalism team. Click here to find out more.
Source: CNN