House Republicans Push for Trump Protection Legislation

House Republicans are pushing for legislation to provide presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, with the same level of Secret Service protection as sitting presidents, following two assassination attempts on Trump. Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized reallocating Secret Service resources rather than increasing its budget, which has already seen annual increases. Concurrently, there is a proposal to attach additional Secret Service funding to a short-term spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown. President Biden, who ordered more protection for Trump in July, supports additional resources for the Secret Service and has reached out to Trump post-incident, though contact was unsuccessful. The Secret Service’s recent actions in thwarting a gunman at Trump’s golf course highlight both their dedication and ongoing staffing challenges, with bipartisan calls for enhanced support.