Staff ReportsThe Secret Service is requesting more funds, and it’s about time. After two startling attempts on Donald Trump’s life within a mere two months, one would expect an uptick in protection for the former president, not contemplating budget cuts. The urgency of the situation is clear: in the world of political assassination attempts, two strikes shouldn’t equate to budget negotiations. Yet here they are, with lawmakers caught in the murky waters of a government shutdown debate.
The first attempted assassination was about as close as one could get without snagging the “Dan Quayle awful haircut” award. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear during a July escapade in Butler, Pennsylvania. Fast forward to last weekend at his Palm Beach golf course, and there was another would-be gunman, ready to play human target practice. It’s bewildering how nearly becoming a real-life action hero doesn’t trigger an emergency meeting about dedicated protection strategies.
The Secret Service Wants More Money After the Second Attempt on Trump's Lifehttps://t.co/dxxvLvZ7Fd
— Chris Queen (@ChrisQueen) September 18, 2024
House Republicans are firing on all cylinders, with leaders like Steve Scalise calling for an immediate boost in security resources. Scalise understands the stakes all too well, having survived an assassination attempt himself. He emphasized the need for the Secret Service to utilize their full capabilities, something that should have been a given long ago. After all, when the safety of a former president—particularly a Republican one—is under siege, protecting him should be a higher priority than funding frivolous programs that do little more than redistribute taxpayer dollars toward questionable practices.
The irony couldn’t be thicker: while most sane Americans would demand heightened security after two assassination attempts, Congress finds itself entangled in budget battles. No surprise there—this is where responsible governance meets its relentless enemy, bureaucratic red tape. The Secret Service’s plea for additional funding comes just as lawmakers attempt to cobble together a budget that satisfies everyone and, more importantly, keeps the lights on in their plush offices. Somewhere in between, the very people responsible for preserving life seem to be competing for pennies.
Even the President, often busy twisting government knobs behind a curtain, weighed in, suggesting the agency needs more resources. But let’s not be naive. It’s not just about sending money; it’s about proper management. The Secret Service has to take a long, hard look in the mirror and figure out why when faced with multiple assassination attempts, they find themselves in such a lurch. The safety of Trump—and, by extension, the ideals he represents—is essentially a job requirement, not an option on a budgetary menu.
The bottom line is simple: the Secret Service either needs to up their game or find a few more bodies to stick on their payroll. As critical as budget negotiations may be, the alarming frequency of attacks against Trump signals a major policy failure on the part of protective services. Money can only do so much—it’s time for Congress to realize that it’s about time we protect our citizens, especially the ones who receive death threats. Let’s get serious about safeguarding life and liberty instead of fumbling through budgets while potential assassins are waiting in the wings.
