The White House is asking Congress for extra security funding for the executive and judicial branches in response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as reported by Fox News Digital.
A spokesperson from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget confirmed on Monday that the administration has requested an additional $58 million for security enhancements. This funding is intended to be included in a continuing resolution, which is necessary to prevent a government shutdown when current funds expire on September 30.
Punchbowl News was the first to break the story regarding the security funding request, but further details are currently unavailable. The White House did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck during an event on his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University. This incident follows two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump in the past year.
In July 2024, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump from a rooftop during a campaign rally, hitting him and killing a bystander, Corey Comperatore. Additionally, Ryan Routh was arrested in September 2024 for attempting to assassinate Trump at his golf club in Florida and is currently on trial.
In a related case, Nicholas John Roske, 29, pleaded guilty in April to attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022, according to the Justice Department.
In light of these threats, the U.S. Secret Service is implementing significant changes to enhance security protocols. Former agents have noted that the agency is currently operating under unprecedented levels of security. Tim Miller, a former Secret Service agent, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The Secret Service now has to play at a level of enhanced security that they’ve never dreamed of before… Can you imagine if they’re able to kill him?”
Following the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Secret Service has expanded its use of drones for surveillance and improved counter-drone technology to counteract potential attacks, as shared by former acting Director Ronald Rowe.
While the Secret Service extended its condolences to the Kirk family, it refrained from commenting on specific changes to Trump’s security detail post-Kirk’s death. A spokesperson for the agency stated, “The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service’s top priority… We cannot discuss the means and methods used for our protective operations due to operational security concerns.”
