Even before the September 15 assassination attempt against Donald Trump, the Biden White House had asked Congress in August for permission to up the budget they spend on Secret Service protection for highly placed political figures.
Donald Trump was at a golf course on Sunday when 58–year-old Ryan Routh, apparently a far-left progressive activist, was trying to kill him with an assault rifle. The Secret Service fired on the alleged would-be assassin, but he fled and was captured later the same day. Trump survived an earlier assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump from the roof of a building that was not secured by police or Secret Service agents. Trump’s ear was grazed, but firefighter and husband and father Corey Comperatore, an attendee, was killed by a bullet while trying to protect his family.
According to unnamed sources with the Biden Administration, the White House in August sent Congress an “anomaly request” to increase the Secret Service Budget. These are used to request money that falls outside the scope of other funding bills.
In its request, the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) told Congress that if Secret Service spending cannot be increased soon, the agency won’t have enough money to do its job protecting candidates and the president from harm.
OMB said the funding boost is necessary just to keep the Secret Service operating at current levels, but that it also needs money for “additional protective and campaign travel,” plus overtime costs.
On the morning of Monday, September 16, President Biden told media gathered at the White House that the Secret Service “needs more help,” and he urged Congress to “respond to their needs.”
The Secret Service itself has asked Congress for more money. Last week the agency’s acting director Ronald Rowe sent a letter to a Senate subcommittee saying “increased mission requirements” need to be met with increased spending.
Maine Republican Susan Collins seems to be onside, telling reporters that if the Secret Service makes a good case that she can’t imagine that Congress won’t fulfill it.
