The White House and House Republican leaders asked Congress for nearly $90 million in additional security funding this week after the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, saying the money is needed to respond to a surge in threats against public officials.
The White House requested $58 million to cover increased protective costs for the judicial and executive branches, asking that the funds be made available to the U.S. Marshals Service through September 2027. Separately, House GOP leaders inserted about $30 million for congressional security into a short-term funding measure to keep the government operating through mid-November, according to lawmakers and aides.
The administration said the Marshals money would fund heightened protection for Supreme Court justices and executive branch officials in response to what it described as an increase in threats since Kirk’s killing. House GOP leaders said the $30 million would be funneled to security for members of both chambers of Congress and their staff. The stopgap spending bill that contains the congressional security funding has drawn criticism from some Democrats, who object to portions of the broader measure.
House Speaker Mike Johnson framed the request as a consequence of rising risks faced by lawmakers, saying "The tragedy has also initiated a number of uncomfortable but necessary conversations about important issues like the safety and security of our members." Johnson has cited Capitol Police statistics showing a jump in reported threats to federal officials this year, telling reporters the force has tracked nearly 14,000 threats so far, up from roughly 9,000 the year before.
Lawmakers and aides said the additional resources would cover a range of measures, including protective details and other security costs outside the regular budgeting for the agencies involved. The White House said the request was prompted in part by concerns that the shooting could fuel further attacks on public figures across political lines.
Several members of Congress and other officials have altered or canceled public appearances since the shooting, citing safety concerns. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has previously received death threats, said she would reschedule a planned rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. Representative Nancy Mace, who is running for governor in South Carolina, said she was canceling outdoor and public events for the foreseeable future and told reporters she would carry a firearm and have security when appearing in public.
The measures come amid a broader wave of violence and threats targeting public officials this year, according to federal and congressional officials. Incidents cited by lawmakers and aides include an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence in April, an arrest related to a manifesto targeting federal judges in September, and the evacuation of Democratic lawmakers after a bomb threat at a hotel in August. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said many lawmakers lack personal protection, telling reporters, "If someone wanted to kill me it’d be easy."
Leaders in both parties face pressure to respond to immediate security needs while balancing concerns about the breadth and duration of any expanded protection. The White House’s request would keep funds available through late 2027, a timeline that could shape discussions over how long enhanced security measures remain in place.
The supplemental funding proposals must clear tumultuous appropriations and political terrain in Congress. House Republican leaders moved to include the $30 million in the short-term spending bill to expedite assistance for congressional security, but Democrats have objected to aspects of the stopgap package even as many lawmakers from both parties express alarm about the recent spike in threats.
Lawmakers, executive branch officials and law enforcement agencies are continuing to review security needs for judges, members of Congress and senior officials in the wake of the shooting. Further votes in the House and Senate will determine whether the requested funds are approved and how they will be allocated across agencies and protective programs.