White House seeks $58 million to boost security after Kirk shooting

The Trump administration has requested an additional $58 million from Congress to strengthen security for executive and judicial branch officials after the fatal shooting of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, according to a White House official, cited by Bloomberg.

The funding is proposed for inclusion in a stopgap spending bill ahead of the September 30 deadline, when the current federal spending law expires. The request was first reported by Punchbowl News.

The administration also indicated support for expanding resources to protect lawmakers, though the specifics of such measures will be determined by Congress.

Kirk’s shooting at a university event in Utah this week has heightened concerns about the safety of public officials, particularly in the wake of last year’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump during the presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, Republicans are pushing for a short-term spending bill to keep the government funded next month but have rejected Democratic demands to include health-care provisions. Passing the measure will require securing Democratic votes, setting up a potential clash over expiring Obamacare subsidies and other health-care funding priorities. Democrats have vowed to block any measure that excludes these provisions, while some moderate Republicans signal willingness to compromise to avoid steep premium increases for millions of Americans.

By Khagan Isayev