Biden Administration Requests Increased Funding for Secret Service from Congress

The Biden administration has recently requested special permission from Congress to increase funding for the Secret Service. This request comes at a time of heightened concern about the agency’s resources, particularly following a second reported assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

In August, prior to this latest event, the White House Office of Management and Budget submitted an anomaly request to congressional committees. Such requests allow for targeted funding increases within short-term spending bills known as continuing resolutions (CRs). These resolutions help the government to operate at current funding levels temporarily, while more comprehensive appropriations bills are being negotiated for the entire fiscal year.

The OMB expressed urgency in its request, warning that without flexible funding, the Secret Service would not have enough resources to maintain and improve its protective operations. Congressional staff have indicated there are growing concerns about funding levels for the Secret Service, which have become a sticking point in ongoing discussions about government spending for 2025.

As the deadline approaches for Congress to fund the government by October 1, there is increasing pressure to address the Secret Service’s funding needs. Failure to pass a budget could lead to a partial government shutdown just weeks before the election.

In the immediate term, the OMB’s request points out that additional funding would help the Secret Service sustain current operations while also addressing rising costs associated with protective details and campaign travel.

In a statement to reporters, President Biden emphasized the necessity of increasing support for the Secret Service. He remarked, “The Secret Service needs more help,” and urged Congress to respond to the agency’s calls for additional personnel.

Moreover, the Secret Service has alerted Congress of its increasing resource needs. In a recent letter from Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe to a Senate subcommittee, he indicated that “increased mission requirements of the Secret Service necessitate additional resources.” This reflects the agency’s ongoing struggle to meet its responsibilities, particularly during an election year.

Senator Susan Collins, the GOP vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that if the Secret Service can substantiate its need for more resources, Congress is unlikely to ignore that request. She referenced an earlier incident where the agency stated that lack of resources was not a contributing factor in the first assassination attempt on Trump. However, she highlighted the significant demands placed on the Secret Service in light of protecting both the former and current presidents, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, especially during an election season when Trump is campaigning nationwide.

The suspect in the West Palm Beach incident, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, faced charges of firearm offenses in federal court shortly after the incident. Authorities reported that Routh, armed with an AK-47-style rifle, was detected within 300 to 500 yards of Trump, prompting members of the Secret Service to open fire. Routh did not discharge his weapon and fled the scene, only to be apprehended shortly thereafter. Thankfully, Trump was unharmed and praised the efforts of the Secret Service and local law enforcement, describing them as “absolutely outstanding.”

This latest episode of violence against Trump is especially alarming, following an earlier incident where he was shot in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, back in July. Investigations into that incident, which resulted in a fatality among rally attendees, are still ongoing as Congress and federal agencies seek to ascertain the facts.

In a period fraught with volatility surrounding political figures and heightened security concerns, the need for adequate funding and support for agencies tasked with safeguarding these individuals has never been more critical.