Government stepping up security at federal buildings

The U.S. government has boosted security at federal buildings in Washington and across the country in response to last week’s terrorist attack outside the Canadian Parliament building in Ottawa that killed one soldier, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.

The ongoing threats against American targets by Islamic State militants and other terrorist organizations were also a factor, Johnson said.

The Federal Protective Service, which guards more than 9,500 federal buildings nationwide, will “enhance its presence and security,” Johnson said, but the exact steps being taken will vary depending on location.

“The reasons for this action are self-evident: the continued public calls by terrorist organizations for attacks on the homeland and elsewhere, including against law enforcement and other government officials, and the acts of violence targeted at government personnel and installations in Canada and elsewhere,” he said.

The enhanced security posture is not in response to a specific threat to government officials or personnel, said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal assessments.

“We are taking this action as a precautionary step,” Johnson said.

The Federal Protective Service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, oversees the protection of buildings owned or leased by the General Services Administration. About 1.4 million visitors and personnel pass through those buildings every day.

Johnson urged businesses, local governments and police to be vigilant, “particularly in guarding against potential small-scale attacks by a lone offender or a small group of individuals.”