Why the New White House Fence Will Be 5 Feet Higher

Earlier this year the National Capital Planning Commission gave final approval to several design changes to the fence enclosing the White House. Citing security reasons, the commission decided it was time to upgrade the perimeter of the White House, which was originally erected (in its most primitive form) in 1801 under the direction of President Thomas Jefferson. The new design will include several features, such as a stone base and an increased overall height pushing 13 feet, making it five feet taller than the current fence. Retractable bollards in front of the fence (which are short posts that come out of the ground) will be replaced by ram-proof gates.

Indeed, these design changes can't come soon enough. Over the past few weeks the Secret Service has announced several incidents in which people have attempted to jump the White House fence, including this past weekend. After alarm bells sounded early Sunday at 2:15 a they found 38-year-old Marci Anderson Wahl of Everett, Washington, dangling from the fence. Wahl's shoelaces were tangled in the fence, rendering her incapable of advancing any further onto the 18-acre White House grounds.

Secret Service officers take a man into custody moments after he jumped the White House fence in 2004.

The incident was the second security breach this month. A few weeks ago a man carrying a backpack jumped over the fence and got within several steps of the White House before being arrested. The security breach came as the president was inside the residence. According to court filings, the 26-year-old man, who has a history of mental illness, stated, "I am a friend of the president. I have an appointment."