US Secret Service increases security around White House after breach

The US Secret Service has increased security measures along the road in front of the White House where a man scaled a fence on Friday and got inside the doors of the executive mansion, the agency said in a statement on Saturday.

Secret Service Director Julia Pierson ordered the measures after the breach, which was one of the most significant since President Barack Obama, who was not present at the time, took office.

A review of the Secret Service's response began last night, the agency said, with a physical assessment of the area and interviews with involved personnel.

Omar J. Gonzalez, a 42-year-old white male from Texas, climbed the fence, ran across the lawn and made it inside the front doors of the White House before being apprehended. He was not armed and the first family was not home.

"Every day the Secret Service is challenged to ensure security at the White House complex while still allowing public accessibility to a national historical site," the agency said in a statement.

"Although last night the officers showed tremendous restraint and discipline in dealing with this subject, the location of Gonzalez's arrest is not acceptable."

The results of the review will be delivered to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. Gonzalez, who was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, is also the subject of a criminal investigation.

While waiting for the results of the review, Secret Service Director Julia Pierson ordered increased security around the area where the intruder got onto the White House grounds.

Tourists and others can get a close-up view of the front of the mansion from Pennsylvania Avenue, which is closed to traffic but open to pedestrians and runs directly in front of the complex.

"Director Pierson has ordered the immediate enhancement of officer patrols and surveillance capabilities along the Pennsylvania Avenue fence line around the White House complex," the statement said.

"These measures went into effect last night," it added.

An Obama spokesman said the president had full faith in the agency charged with protecting him and was certain the review would be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

"The president has full confidence in the Secret Service and is grateful to the men and women who day in and day out protect himself, his family and the White House," spokesman Frank Benenati said.

A second man was arrested on Saturday for trespassing at the White House. Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the man approached the White House gates on foot, was sent away, then returned in his vehicle.

"He refused to leave and was arrested for trespassing," Donovan said. No further details were available.

Obama and his family were away for both incidents. They are spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in nearby Maryland.

The Secret Service has faced a series of scandals and other security breaches in recent years. In 2009 an uninvited couple penetrated layers of security to get into a White House state dinner. The agency's reputation was tarnished further in 2012 over a prostitution scandal involving its agents in Colombia.