US Congress rushes to ensure safety of presidential candidates as election nears

After the second assassination attempt on 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, lawmakers in the Congress are racing to ensure the US Secret Service has enough funding and resources to protect presidential candidates amid rising threats of political violence. With just over 45 days remaining for the election on November 5, it remains uncertain if additional funds can make a significant difference.
This urgency follows a recent incident where US Secret Service agents arrested Ryan Wesley Routh with an AK-47-style rifle hiding on Trump’s golf course in Florida, who reportedly intended to assassinate the GOP nominee and former President, Trump.
This is not the first time that Donald Trump has been the target of an assassination attempt. In July, he narrowly escaped a bullet in his head while the bullet grazed his ears.
As a response to the assassination attempt on Trump, both Democrats and Republicans are discussing what more the agency might need.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasised the need for effective measures.
“Luck cannot be a strategy by the Secret Service to have stopped these attempts. The Secret Service has to do better,” Steve was quoted as saying by news agency AP.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson noted, “We have a responsibility here in Congress to get down to the bottom of this to figure out why these things are happening and what we can do about it.”
Legislation is set to be voted on Friday, requiring the Secret Service to use the same standards for presidential candidates as they do for sitting presidents.
“We’ve got to get the Secret Service into a position where its protectees are shielded in the most maximum way possible,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, reported AP.
After the July shooting incident, House Republicans formed a bipartisan task force to investigate security failures, with plans to include the Florida incident in their review.
The Secret Service had previously informed lawmakers that funding shortages were not to blame for lapses in security during a rally in Pennsylvania, but Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr highlighted the agency’s “immediate needs” and ongoing discussions with Congress.
Senator Chris Murphy, who oversees the Secret Service funding, indicated that any new funding should be effective quickly.
“It’s going to help the situation between now and the inauguration,” said Murphy.
He mentioned potential uses for the funds, including technology upgrades and overtime pay for agents.
In response to these threats, the Secret Service has reportedly increased Trump’s security to match that of Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.
Spencer Love, a spokesperson for the House task force, confirmed, “There are a handful of specialised assets only the commander in chief gets, but the rest of his protection is at the same level.”
Despite calls for funding, Scalise pointed out that the agency has received regular budget increases.
“It’s not about the money. It’s about what they’re doing with the money.” Some lawmakers, like Representative Mike Waltz, argued that a thorough assessment of needs should come before additional funding.
In the Senate, Florida Senator Rick Scott has introduced similar legislation to mandate protections for presidential candidates. The safety of political candidates remains a critical concern as the presidential election draws closer.