(DDM) – The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an increase in funding for lawmakers’ personal security, citing a heightened threat environment following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the House Committee on Administration has extended a pilot program originally set to expire on September 30 and doubled the monthly allowance lawmakers may use for private protection.
From the end of September through November 21, members of Congress will now have access to $10,000 per month for personal security.
This is a sharp increase from the $5,000 monthly allocation that lawmakers had previously been receiving under the program, which was first launched in July.
The additional funding aligns with the expiration of a stopgap spending bill, which Republicans are working to push through Congress before government funding lapses.
In addition to the pilot program extension, Congress had already allocated $30 million in a broader funding package to strengthen lawmakers’ security measures.
However, members from both parties have warned that the $30 million is insufficient given what they describe as an unprecedented wave of threats in America’s polarized political climate.
House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil defended the decision to double the pilot program’s funds, saying members have reported overwhelmingly positive experiences with the system.
Steil explained that the extra money was reallocated from existing funds within the fiscal year budget, minimizing the need for additional appropriations.
“The negative feedback,” Steil admitted, “is that they’d like more resources.”
Lawmakers have raised alarms for years about their safety, but those concerns have intensified since Kirk’s killing, which underscored how political violence is now shaping everyday legislative life.
The June attack on Minnesota state lawmakers had already reignited debate over how best to safeguard elected officials and their families.
Security has historically been a sensitive issue on Capitol Hill, with leaders balancing the need to protect lawmakers against concerns about overreach, costs, and public optics.
The January 6 Capitol riot in 2021 remains one of the starkest reminders of the vulnerabilities lawmakers face, with dozens of members reporting threats in its aftermath.
Since then, the U.S. Capitol Police has expanded operations, but members continue to insist that publicly funded law enforcement cannot cover the totality of the risks they encounter, especially in their home districts.
In recent years, a growing number of lawmakers have opted to hire private security contractors, particularly when traveling or attending politically charged events.
The pilot program was designed to help offset the steep costs of these services, especially for members without large campaign war chests.
Supporters of the increase argue that the safety of elected officials is fundamental to the functioning of democracy, and that fears of intimidation or violence must be addressed swiftly.
Critics, however, warn that layering new expenses on top of existing security budgets risks draining resources away from other urgent needs.
Some activists have also raised concerns that private security contractors could adopt heavy-handed approaches, creating tensions in local communities where members hold events.
Despite the controversies, the urgency of protecting lawmakers in the wake of Kirk’s assassination appears to have united Democrats and Republicans around the need for immediate action.
The new $10,000 monthly allocation will expire on November 21 unless Congress passes an extension or creates a permanent funding structure.
Discussions are already underway about whether to establish a long-term security package that reflects the shifting realities of modern American politics.
Observers note that as political violence and threats become more visible, the U.S. Congress may have no choice but to institutionalize these additional protections.
For now, lawmakers will be watching closely to see whether the extended program is sufficient to deter risks or whether further escalation will be necessary in the months ahead.
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