U.S. fortifies capital to prepare for inauguration like to no other The National Mall will be closed, four bridges from Virginia will be shut down and as many as 25,000 National Guard troops will be on the streets of Washington for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. By Emily Davies, Justin Jouvenal, Dan Lamothe and Meagan FlynnThe Washington Post Share Workers prepare the stage on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol ahead of Inauguration Day on Wednesday. Salwan Georges/The Washington Post WASHINGTON — The Mall will be shuttered to the public for nearly a week, federal officials announced Friday, the latest in a series of unprecedented security measures that will all but prevent most people from viewing the inauguration in person on Wednesday.