Washington (AP) – AS House Speaker Mike Johnson This week, I gathered lawmakers and lamented them. Charlie Kirkhe summed up the sadness that many people felt on Capitol Hill.
“For a lot of us, it felt like the ground was shaking,” said Johnson of R-LA.
Kirk’s murderwith a prominent conservative activist Founder of Turning Point USAboth parties have uneasy lawmakers, amplifying long-standing concerns about safety. The intense political situation When threats and calls for violence against political rivals become horribly common.
In response to these concerns, Senate majority leaders John Tune, Rs.D. On Thursday night, it designed the unanimous passage of measures to allow senators to use designated money to offices and staff for security purposes. House members are also calling for increased security funding.
It’s all part of a major change for lawmakers increasingly feel that involvement in public life requires the same kind of security precautions that have long been reserved for the president and the members of the Cabinet.
“If we came back a few years ago, people were like, ‘Yeah, I understand there’s a risk.’ But now we’re coming to our family and saying, ‘OK, what are we going to do?’ Our staff are coming to us and saying, ‘What are we going to do?'” R-Okla Sen. James Lankford said.
What security do lawmakers have?
Unlike the president and other top-industry officials, rank and file lawmakers are often not accompanied by security agents when they are away from Capitol Hill, protected by Capitol Hill, protected by the police at the U.S. Capitol. Some members of Congress pay for private security from private or campaign funds.
“Members of the council have far less security than many local officials who have returned to their homes and judges,” said D-Texas Rep. Greg Casar. “We were often the least safe.”
He said, “Political violence is meant to silence us, and we cannot be silenced for democracy. And I think it’s important to provide some degree of safety and security to our members.”
The number of threat assessment cases handled by Capitol Police has grown steadily over the past four years. The department says it is on track to track more than 9,000 cases of threat reported in 2024 and handle roughly 14,000 by the end of this year.
Promoting to increase security funds
“It’s a national security issue. It’s a big deal and we take it very seriously,” said Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Luna said many lawmakers face security threats, the subject of law enforcement investigations. Lawmakers say they now face death threats on a daily basis. Swatting” callthe fear of bombs and vandalism in their offices.
“We needed this,” Luna said. “The fact that this took this to deal with this for happening is crazy for me, but it needs to be addressed.”
Government Finance Legislation Passing the Republican-controlled House on Friday will add about $88 million in security money to lawmakers and members of the Supreme Court.
The temporary program, which provides monthly pay to lawmakers, doubled the funds from $5,000 to $10,000 per member. The House Trustees launched the program in July after the assassination of the Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman And her husband.
Through the program, House members are also allowed to spend up to $20,000 on security equipment in their homes.
Injecting cash does not affect the Secret Service’s separate budget or the President protected by the Capitol Police, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the numerous offices in which the government and political authorities are located.
“The federal judge has a former s. Obviously, the executives have federal law enforcement. Members of Congress are not protected,” said D-FLA Rep. Maxwell Frost. “We’ve become an era of political violence,” Frost said, adding that he thought it was “silly” for lawmakers to have to use personal or campaign funds to protect themselves.
R-Tenn. Rep. Tim Burchett of the GOP leaders criticized the GOP leaders for not providing more security money. He questioned whether they were grateful for the situation faced by elected officials today.
“I think it’s hard to understand that leadership is in their small protective bubble with security details and (Chevrolet) suburbs. They don’t have to be lined up, they’re not in the crowd, and we’re basically out with our families.
R-Wis. Rep. Derek Van Orden of the FBI said it was investigating multiple death threats to his family, arguing that such incidents should be prosecuted as terrorist attacks. “We have security, but we need to increase security,” he said.
Utah Rep. Blake Moore, vice-chairman of the House Republican Congress, cited “a massive two-party agreement that we need to do more.” He added: “We’ve not only found a sweet spot to be financially responsible, but we’re making sure we’re in a good place.”
Working with local law enforcement agencies
Moore pointed out that local law enforcement is particularly sensitive to stepping up to protect lawmakers in their district, and he praised their support.
Lawmakers often coordinate with district law enforcement, as if they had officers at local events, but said they often feel vulnerable when moving between their hometown and Washington.
D-Fla. , Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is hoping for a “comprehensive” security plan for all residential members, including security guards traveling with lawmakers.
She said she had been hesitant to increase security in the past as she placed a barrier between her and her constituents. However, the recent famous murder of a politician, the shooting of her friend, the shooting of the time. Gabby GiffordD-Ariz. , 2011 convinced her that she needed protection.
“For me, it’s necessary to protect our members, to protect us, to protect our staff, to protect our families,” Wasserman Schultz said. “The risk is too great.”
