The Trump administration has requested an additional $58m from Congress to bolster security for members of the executive and judicial branches, following the killing of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk. According to multiple reports, the funding would also be used to protect members of Congress, although lawmakers have been left to decide on further measures.
The request comes as House Democrats prepare for a virtual security briefing on Sunday evening with the House sergeant at arms and the Capitol police chief. Kirk, a prominent Trump ally, was shot dead while speaking at a university event in Utah last week, with a suspect arrested. The motive remains unconfirmed, but conservatives have blamed liberals and leftwing activists, prompting some politicians to cancel events over safety concerns.
Political violence in the US has risen sharply, with more than 520 plots and acts of terrorism or targeted violence recorded across nearly all states in the first six months of 2025. At least 96 people have died and 329 have been injured, marking a nearly 40% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that congressional leaders are reviewing security for members of Congress, stressing the need to protect those who run for public office. 'We have to protect people who run for public office, or no one will,' Johnson said. The funding request coincides with the approaching 30 September deadline for government funding, raising the possibility of a shutdown as lawmakers clash over healthcare-related bills.
