Chairman Arrington Calls for Transparency on Protective Services Resources for all Presidential Candidates
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressing critical concerns regarding the budgetary resources allocated to protective services for presidential candidates.
In light of escalating security threats to our nation’s political leaders, Chairman Arrington requests disclosure of the resources allocated to DHS agencies, including the Secret Service, to protect presidential candidates.
In the letter, Chairman Arrington requests that DHS:
- Provide a detailed breakdown of the budgetary resources dedicated to protective services for both President Biden and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump from January to July 2024. This should encompass all relevant costs, including personnel, equipment, and operational expenditures.
- Provide a detailed breakdown of the budgetary resources dedicated to protective services for presidential candidates over the past four presidential cycles. This should encompass all relevant costs, including personnel, equipment, and operational expenditures.
- Provide a comprehensive breakdown of any adjustments made in response to the recent heightened security threats against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
- Detail the projected costs associated with these protective details leading up to the upcoming election. Understanding the anticipated financial obligations will help us evaluate and ensure the safety of our political leaders.
- Provide any communication records from either President Biden’s campaign or White House staff, and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump’s staff requesting additional protective resources over the past year.
The Bottom Line:
The Secret Service displayed a serious operational failure on July 13, 2024, that demands Congressional oversight. The House Budget Committee will ensure a full and complete account of this operation failure and bring light to the Secret Service’s current and historic resource allocation. The American people, candidates, and presidents, need to be reassured that political violence is unacceptable under any circumstance.
Chairman Arrington’s request for information from DHS will help the House Budget Committee ensure adequate security measures are in place to protect all candidates.
The Director of the Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle is testifying before the House Oversight Committee concerning the Secret Service’s ability to protect presidential candidates in light of the attempted assassination of President Trump.
