Capitol security tight ahead of Biden address

President Joe Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday will take place in a U.S. Capitol on high alert.

Memories here are still fresh after the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the building by supporters of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

The crowd inside the Capitol will be a fraction of the hundreds of lawmakers, Supreme Court justices, cabinet officials and guests who typically attend, to allow for more social distancing.

But security will be higher than usual, even for what is already officially designated a "National Special Security Event."

The white-domed building is still surrounded by a black steel mesh fence with some 2,250 armed National Guard troops on duty in the city.

That's a reduction from the even heavier military presence put in place after Trump supporters stormed the building as Congress was voting to certify Biden's election victory.

Five people including a U.S. Capitol Police officer died after the violence and dozens of police were injured in clashes with rioters.

A Secret Service representative said the agency and law enforcement were well prepared and that "every security contingency is accounted for."