BIDEN ERA TO KICKOFF IN SPECTACULAR FASHION! Err, wait: Biden Inaugural Parade Cancelled.

Jon Nicosia of News Cycle Media was first to report that the parade had been cancelled.

On Sunday, Mediaite obtained a copy of a U.S. Army email sent to a list of military leaders notifying them that the parade was cancelled and their participation was no longer needed.

“ALCON,” the email began (an abbreviation for “all concerned”), announcing the parade cancellation shortly after 9 pm ET:

The Presidential Inauguration Committee has provided definitive guidance. Although it is not in an official order format, they have approved the following to be disseminated in a limited manner. A formal order will be sent out through NORTHCOM and Joint Staff today but with the Holiday they understand that the guidance may not reach everyone until later next week.

The Inaugural Parade has been canceled. The Active, National Guard, Reserve, and Academy marching requirements have been deleted and are no longer needed.

The email did not specify a reason for the cancellation. Security concerns are always a significant issue with any presidential inauguration, or, for that matter, any event where the president and vice president will be in attendance.

However, it is believed this parade was cancelled to avoid drawing large crowds amid the coronavirus pandemic. Previous communications from Biden’s inaugural committee had urged Americans not to travel to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration, and described plans where the “ceremony’s footprint will be extremely limited,” and contemplated a “reimagined” parade.

This headline from Bloomberg seems to confirm the above Mediaite story: Biden to Replace Inaugural Parade With Short Walk to White House.