Republicans’ recently revealed government funding proposal would give millions to the Secret Service, with a requirement relating to the investigations into the assassination attempts of former President Donald Trump.
The new bill would provide $231 million to the Secret Service as part of negotiations to avert a government shutdown. However, this funding would be on the condition that the agency turns over a report on its investigations into the assassination attempt at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, to the House task force and Senate committee investigating both assassination attempts. The Department of Homeland Security must also respond to two letters sent by the House task force.
The choice of $231 million came after discussions between the Secret Service and appropriators. Both Republicans and Democrats have called for increased resources for the agency after the two attempts on Trump’s life.
“One thing I want to make clear is: The service needs more help. And I think Congress should respond to their need,” President Joe Biden told reporters last week.
He also said the Secret Service would get the final say on deciding “whether they need more personnel or not.”
As a former president, Trump’s security detail is a lower priority, opening security gaps such as the one that was exploited during the second assassination attempt on Trump earlier this month.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw explained how the level of protection afforded to Trump would be different if he were the sitting president, saying the entire golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, would have been surrounded by security rather than the smaller team dedicated to his protection.
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“Security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” he said.
In the aftermath of the second assassination attempt, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) requested the Secret Service explain to Congress everything it needed to ensure Trump’s security.
To avert a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, congressional leaders from both parties agreed on a plan to fund the government at around the present level until Dec. 20, allowing more time for negotiations. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) dropped the provision to require proof of citizenship for voting, which was backed by Trump. The plan will be voted on this week.