House Democrats lobbying Republicans to increase personal security funding

Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Administration Committee, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have discussed a proposal to further boost security for lawmakers with their Republican counterparts, a senior Democratic committee aide told The Hill Monday evening.

The aide said that Morelle and Jeffries “have regularly discussed innovative solutions to the heightened need for Member security” with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wisc.), the chair of the Administration Committee — which oversees Capitol security.

The group has discussed expanding the Law Enforcement Coordination Program to “provide a dedicated staff slot and funding for Members to hire a staff member focused solely on security, including facilitating more timely threat assessments and liaising with law enforcement,” the aide said.

They have also discussed forming a new security program that would provide members of Congress with a security professional “as they perform their official duties,” working with U.S. Capitol Police to finalize memorandums of understanding with state, or state-equivalent, law enforcement agencies and providing funding for security screening technology in members’ district offices.

Semafor first reported the push from Morelle and Jeffries earlier Monday. The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Johnson and to the Administration Committee for comment.

House Sergeant-at-Arms William McFarland informed lawmakers of a new $20,000 monthly allowance for personal security last week, Roll Call reported. House members received access to the funding on Monday.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have expressed safety concerns after multiple instances of political violence in recent years, including the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.

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