Trump administration seeks $58 million to boost security after Kirk shooting
FILE-U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officers patrol near the White House on March 09, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Trump administration is asking Congress to approve $58 million to enhance security for the executive and judicial branches of government, citing political threats in the aftermath of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s murder last week.
According to the New York Times, the administration wrote in a formal notice to Congressional leaders that the funds would be allocated to the U.S. Marshals Service to cover extra protective operations for the Supreme Court justices.
RELATED: Charlie Kirk's death highlights rise in political violence: 'It's affecting Americans
Citing the notice, the New York Times noted that the administration stated that the extra money is needed based on increased threats to public officials and the funding would be available through September 2027.
In the notice, the Trump administration also urged legislators to consider increasing resources for Capitol Police and other security protocol.
Kirk’s death among other recent political violence incidents in the U.S.
The backstory:
The murder of Charlie Kirk underscores an alarming trend in the nation with incidents of political violence.
In recent years, elected officials have been shot at and seriously injured. In 2011, Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in an assassination attempt.
RELATED: MN lawmaker shootings: Gabby Giffords 'horrified' by shooting
Several years later, in 2017, A shooter opened fire on Republican lawmakers as they practiced for a charity baseball game, critically wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and hitting aides and Capitol police.
On Jan. 6, 2021, hundreds of people, many who were supporters of former President Donald Trump violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, protesting the results of the presidential election. Members of Congress were meeting to certify the victory of Joe Biden. More than 100 law police officers were attacked and injured by rioters, and a total of five people died on January 6 or in the immediate aftermath, and several law enforcement officers who responded to the attack later died by suicide.
RELATED: Jan. 6 prosecutions: A look at cases, charges by the numbers
Years later, President Donald Trump was the victim of two assassination attempts. In July 2024, 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump from a rooftop during a campaign rally, and one of the eight bullets shot grazed Trump's ear. The shooter also shot and killed Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, father and husband attending the rally, and injured two others.
Ryan Routh was captured and charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024. FOX News reported that Routh was charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, among other things, and his trial kicked off on Thursday.
In April 2025, a man broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion and set a fire that caused severe damage. The incident forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests evacuated the mansion.
Months later, in June 2025, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot in what police called a "targeted" shooting.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The New York Times, previous LIVENOW from FOX reporting, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, FOX News, and the Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.