A bill introduced in the House would allow the Secret Service to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for the costs of protecting President Trump.
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) reintroduced a bill from last Congress that, if passed, would provide assistance to groups in Florida, New Jersey and New York as they have bolstered security at his residences after his assassination attempt last July.
“The Secret Service relies on strong collaboration with local law enforcement to fulfill its mission effectively,” Kean said in a statement. “Currently, much of that responsibility falls on small-town taxpayers and local budgets. We must ensure our local law enforcement has the resources they need to do their job successfully.”
While Trump campaigned at a rally in Butler, Pa., in mid-July, a gunman opened fire, striking the president in the ear. Secret Service and local law enforcement were sharply criticized for the incident over miscommunications and a lack of planning.
Weeks later, Secret Service noticed a man with a rifle pointed through the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach, Fla., golf course.
The president had since been staffed with more law enforcement, and various precautions were taken while he was still campaigning.
Kean said he was introducing the bill because the local agencies where Trump has property, including his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump Tower in New York and the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, which is in the congressman’s district, need support.
Palm Beach County predicted its presidential security bill will be more than $45 million this year and could be even higher if Trump continues to visit Mar-a-Lago most weekends, which he has done since returning to the White House, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Kean said he was reintroducing the legislation, which stalled in the House last year, to ensure “necessary funding is readily available to support every security operation.”
Kean was joined by Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), whose district includes Mar-a-Lago, in sponsoring the bill.
“Local communities operate with limited budgets, and diverting critical resources to cover the cost of protecting the President significantly impacts their capabilities,” Frankel said in a statement. “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Kean Jr., ensuring much-needed federal support so local law enforcement agencies are fully reimbursed for these essential expenses.”
