National Security Expert Expects Security To Ramp Up Following D.C. Riot

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Security at federal and state government buildings is expected to ramp up after Wednesday’s riot in Washington, D.C., according to Ryan Vogel, national security expert and Utah Valley University professor.

“At least for the foreseeable future, you know, the next few weeks,” Vogel said. “I think you will see a heightened security presence, but I don’t think that will translate to other areas, whether it’s airports, the way that 9/11 caused that kind of shift.”

The former senior policy adviser in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the pentagon lived in D.C. for nearly a decade. He has walked the Capitol grounds numerous times and said Wednesday’s serious security breach should have never happened.

“Accountability is due, I mean something happened in a really major way,” he said. “Our enemies are looking at this and seeing a lot of vulnerabilities, and we are going to have to shore up those weaknesses in those areas.”

As a senior policy adviser, he studied security tactics and protocols and feels the breach comes down to one issue: insufficient numbers.

“You saw law enforcement putting up a real fight, but they didn’t seem to have the numbers or the resources to really put back a group with that great of numbers,” he said.

The Capitol Building along with other D.C. landmarks are open to the public. Vogel hopes it stays that way despite recent events but fears the risk of over correction can be just as dangerous.

“We need to figure out how to balance the right of Americans to peacefully protest and the right of the public servants in those buildings to be safe and to do their jobs in a secure environment,” Vogel said.