House lawmakers are now getting $5,000 a month for personal security guards
The House Administration Committee announced on Tuesday that members of the House of Representatives can now spend $20,000 on home security improvements with public funds, up from $10,000 before.
They're also getting $5,000 a month to spend on personal security, including hired security guards, back in their home states. That's an increase from just $150 before, and it's set to last through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.
The change is coming days before the House heads home for the August recess, when many lawmakers will be back in their districts and interacting with constituents, including at town halls.
Politicians have been able to spend campaign funds on personal security, and many of them already do. Wealthier lawmakers may choose to hire security with their own money as well.
The changes come a month after two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot in their homes in what the Department of Justice has called "targeted political assassinations."
The speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa Hortman, died of her injuries along with her husband Mark. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot, but survived.
Other lawmakers have faced threats to their lives in recent months.
The most recent was Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, whose Bronx office was vandalized after she voted against an amendment to a defense spending bill that would have struck funding for Israel's "Iron Dome" defensive missile system.
A spokesman for the congresswoman, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, said on X on Monday that her office had "received multiple threats on the Congresswoman's life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
14 minutes ago
- The Hill
Cuomo: Mamdani has advantage as the Democrat on ballot
New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo said in a Thursday interview that his opponent, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, has an advantage as the Democrat listed on the general election ballot this November. The former New York governor — who launched an independent bid after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary — said he fears voters will flock to the democratic socialist assemblyman simply because he's listed as the Democrat. 'A multi-candidate field favors Mamdani — because he's a socialist on the Democratic line. I'm a Democrat on an independent line,' Cuomo said in an interview on CNBC's 'Squawk Box.' 'Because politics is all upside down in this country right now,' he added. 'But you have a lot of people who knee-jerk go to the Democratic line, right? About 70 percent of the voters are Democrats in the general election, and he'll be on the Democratic line. So multi-candidate field favors him,' Cuomo said. Cuomo formally announced he is running as an independent in New York City's mayoral race on July 14, shortly after losing the primary election to Mamdani. Mamdani defeated Cuomo by about 12 points, 56 percent to 44 percent, in the third round of ranked choice voting in the primary. Cuomo joins Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election race. Mamdani's critics fear that a crowded general election could result in his opponents splitting the vote, easily handing Mamdani a victory. Cuomo has proposed an arrangement whereby he and Adams agree to drop out of the race by mid-September if neither is in the lead against Mamdani.
Axios
14 minutes ago
- Axios
Shaheen cuts foreign aid deal to support Waltz
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) agreed to support former Rep. Mike Waltz's nomination to be ambassador to the UN after securing an agreement with the State Department to release $75 million in foreign aid for Haiti and Nigeria. Why it matters: Waltz will now likely be confirmed by the full Senate. "In a Situation Room filled with people like Vice President Vance and Under Secretary Colby, who want to retreat from the world, and like Secretary Hegseth, I think we're better off having someone like Mike Waltz present," Shaheen said in a statement provided to Axios. "That is particularly true when you consider the alternatives to Mr. Waltz as a nominee," she said. "And I welcome the Administration's commitment to distribute $75 million of lifesaving assistance." Driving the news: Shaheen voted to report Waltz out of committee with favorable recommendation on Thursday. He was reported out 12-10. Waltz's prospects looked uncertain on Wednesday after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) informed Sen. Jim Risch, the committee chair, that he would only vote to advance Waltz "without recommendation." Waltz has been working with several Democratic senators to find common ground between his America First approach to the UN and their key priorities, including China and Western hemisphere hotspots like Haiti, according to a source close to Waltz. Zoom in: In the last 24 hours, Shaheen worked out a deal with Risch and the Trump administration to unlock previously authorized spending, including $25 million for Nigeria and $50 million for Haiti in food and medical assistance, according to a Shaheen adviser. In last week's confirmation hearing for Michael Rigas to be deputy secretary of state for management and resources, Democrats raised the issue of food assistance. Zoom out: Some Democrats were also concerned that Trump might nominate someone like Richard Grenell if Waltz's nomination failed, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The Onion
14 minutes ago
- The Onion
‘The House Will Take A Short Recess,' Declares Mike Johnson Dousing Capitol In Gasoline
WASHINGTON—Saying he hoped the break would keep his party focused on the America First agenda, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced plans Thursday for the House of Representatives to take a short recess as he doused the U.S. Capitol in gasoline. 'We know that the American people are best served by putting an end to these Democratic sideshows on Jeffrey Epstein, and that's exactly what we're doing,' said Johnson as he splashed gasoline onto the rugs of the lower chamber, doused the curtains of the Rotunda, and drew a trail of the combustible liquid outside onto the Capitol steps. 'With all due respect to my colleagues, we're not going to let them use this Epstein stuff as a political battering ram. So we'll be adjourning until September. There won't be any votes on these resolutions until then.' At press time, Johnson could be heard reiterating his pride in what his party had accomplished over the past session before lighting a safety match, setting the box aflame, and pitching the entire package towards the Capitol.
