As house Speaker Mike Johnson this week called congressmen to mourn Charlie Kirk, who summed up the grief of many on Capitol Hill and the general fear.
“For many of us it feels like the ground is being shaken,” R-la Johnson said.
Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of the U.S. Turning Point, has no disturbing legislators on either side, expanding their long-term focus on security amid a fierce political climate, in which threats to political rivals and threats to violent appeals become terrifying.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune responded to these issues unanimously adopted a measure Thursday night that would allow senators to use designated funds for their offices and employees for safety purposes. member house It is also pushing for increased security funds.
This is part of a major shift for lawmakers, who increasingly believe that their participation in public life requires the same type of security precautions that have been reserved for both the cabinet and the cabinet members for a long time.
“If you went back a few years ago, people were like, ‘Yeah, I know there was a risk.’ But now our family is coming and said, “Okay, what are we going to do? “Our employees came to us and said, “What should we do?” ” said Senator James Rankford, R-Okla.
Unlike the president and other senior executive officials, the pre-ranked MPs are often accompanied by security personnel when they are outside Capitol Hill guarded by the Congressional Police Department. Some MPs pay private security fees from private or campaign funds.
“The MPs get much less security than many local officials come home or judges,” said Rep. Greg Casar of D-Texas. “Often, we have always been the least safe.”
“Political violence is to keep us silent. We cannot be silent for democracy. So I think it is possible to provide our members with a level of security and security to a certain extent.”
The number of threat assessment cases handled by Capitol police has steadily increased over the past four years. The department said it tracked more than 9,000 reported threat cases in 2024 and is expected to handle about 14,000 cases by the end of the year.
“This is a security issue for a country. It’s a big problem and we will take that very seriously.
Luna said the security threats faced by many lawmakers to themselves or their loved ones are the subject of law enforcement investigations. Legislators say they now usually face death threats, “strike” calls, bomb fears and vandalism in the office.
“We always need this,” Luna said. “The fact that this even needs to be addressed is crazy to me, but needs to be dealt with.”
Government funding bill passed Republican-controlled houses On Friday, lawmakers and members of the Supreme Court and the executive branch will add about $88 million in security funds.
A temporary plan for monthly allowances house Members doubled their funds to $10,000 per member, from $5,000. The House Executive Committee launched the program in July after Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated.
Through the program, house Councillors are also allowed to spend up to $20,000 on home security devices.
The cash injection will not affect the president, who is protected by a separate budget of the Secret Service, or the Capitol Police Department, which guards the Capitol Building – the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and members of government and political officials.
“The federal judge has a marshal. Obviously, executives have federal law enforcement. Congressmen have no protection.” Frost said, “We are at the height of political violence.” He believes it is “absurd” that lawmakers must use their personal or campaign funds to protect themselves.
Rep. Tim Burchett of R-Tenn criticized Republican leaders for not providing more secure funds. He questioned whether they were grateful for the situation facing elected officials today.
“It’s hard for leadership to understand the details of their safety and the small amount of protective bubbles in the (Chevrolet) suburbs. They don’t have to line up, they’re not in the crowd, and then we’re basically alone with our families, which is a very terrible proposal.”
Rep. Derek van Oden (R-Wis.) said: “We have security, but we need enhanced security.”
Utah Rep. Blake Moore, Vice Chairman house The Republican meeting quoted “Big Party, bipartisan agreement, more needs to be done.” He added: “It’s just finding that best place to be financially responsible, but also making sure we’re in a good place.”
Moore noted that local law enforcement was particularly sensitive to stepping up the protection of legislators in its area, and he praised the support.
Councillors said they often coordinate with law enforcement agencies in their area to have officials in their local activities, but they often feel vulnerable when they travel between their home country and Washington.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. Call for a “comprehensive” security plan for all house Members, including security personnel who will travel with lawmakers.
She said in the past, she did not hesitate to increase security because it created a barrier between her and her constituents. But the recent high-profile killings of politicians and the shootings of her friends at that time. D-Ariz’s Gabby Giffords convinced her that she had to carry out protection in 2011.
“For me, it’s really the need to protect our voters, protect us, protect our employees, protect our family members,” Wasserman Schultz said. “The risk is too great.”
___
The story has been corrected to reflect that Rep. Van Orden’s name is Derrick, not Derek.
