The Trump administration is requesting an additional $58 million from Congress to strengthen security for the executive and judicial branches in the wake of the fatal shooting of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, a White House official told Bloomberg.
The funding request, which is expected to be included in an upcoming stopgap spending bill, comes as lawmakers prepare for the September 30 deadline when the current federal budget expires. Bloomberg first reported that the administration’s request follows the recent high-profile attack, underscoring renewed concerns about the safety of public figures.
The White House also expressed support for expanding protective resources for lawmakers but deferred specifics to Congress, according to Bloomberg’s sources.
Kirk’s shooting at a university event in Utah this week has intensified fears over the security of public officials. The incident follows last year’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during the presidential campaign, raising alarms about the vulnerability of political leaders.
Republicans are advocating for a short-term funding measure to keep the government running, Bloomberg reports, but have resisted demands from Democrats to include health-care provisions in any extension. Passing such a bill will require bipartisan support, as Democrats have pledged to block any proposal that excludes health-care funding, while some moderate Republicans are signaling openness to compromise to avoid sharp premium increases for millions of Americans.
The spending debate is shaping up to be a high-stakes showdown, with expiring Obamacare subsidies and other health priorities at the center of negotiations. Bloomberg notes that failure to reach an agreement could heighten the risk of a government shutdown ahead of the looming deadline.
