A short-term government funding measure was introduced by House Republican leaders on Sept. 22, aiming to fund the government through Dec. 20. The stopgap measure is a clean continuing resolution, with additional funding earmarked for the Secret Service. This funding was added in response to two recent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump.
The bill was introduced just eight days before the Sept. 30 deadline to prevent a government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that a continuing resolution is necessary to avoid a shutdown due to the Senate’s failure to pass any appropriations bills for the year.
While the proposed funding is mostly clean, conditions have been attached to the additional funding for the Secret Service. An extra $231 million has been set aside for the agency, with requirements for the director to provide a detailed list of how the funding will be used within 30 days of the bill’s passage. The legislation also mandates prompt compliance with Congress’s requests for information related to the assassination attempts against the former president.
President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have both expressed support for increasing funding for the Secret Service in light of recent events. The House unanimously voted to expand the task force investigating the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, and discussions are ongoing regarding the agency’s funding needs.
Overall, the proposed funding and conditions come after a week of deliberations on Capitol Hill following the recent assassination attempts on former President Trump. The resolution aims to provide the Secret Service with the necessary resources to carry out its duties effectively.
