White House requests $58 million in security funding from Congress following Kirk assassination

Leaders on both sides of the aisle are calling for people to take *** step back from the heat and intensity that's been boiling up after the killing of Charlie Kirk. We've been seeing *** lot of this spreading on social media. Some argue the heated environment led to Kirk's assassination, while others say the fault lies with the suspect. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said the way *** lot of Republicans view what happened is an attack on *** movement, but not everyone agrees. Some are concerned debates are getting so passionate people think. Violence is an acceptable way to respond. Overnight, President Donald Trump called for calm while placing blame on his political opponents on the left. Utah's Governor Spencer Cox pleading Sunday with Americans to take *** step back. Every one of us has to look in the mirror and decide, are we going to try to make it better or are we going to make it worse? And I, I just, I pray that God will help us find him again and, and find our souls and find each other again. The problem we have is on the left. And you look at the agitators, you look at the scum that speaks so badly of our country, the American flag burning all over the place. That's the, that's right. Utah's Governor Spencer Cox also pleading with the public to not jump to conclusions when it comes to *** possible motive. He says the motive has not been released yet. However, the governor also said that he believes the suspect held leftist ideology at the White House. I'm Rachel Herzheimer.

Updated: 1:15 PM CDT Sep 15, 2025

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White House requests $58 million in security funding from Congress following Kirk assassination

Updated: 1:15 PM CDT Sep 15, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The White House has requested an additional $58 million in security funding for the executive and judicial branches following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a Republican congressional aide said.The funding request is being “actively processed” in the context of a stopgap funding bill, the aide said. Lawmakers are facing a looming end-of-month deadline to fund the government and stave off a shutdown, with House GOP leaders expected to move this week on a bill.The request, first reported by Punchbowl News, comes amid heightened concerns in Washington about security for public officials, including among members of Congress, in the wake of the Kirk assassination.Senate Republicans will be briefed on security issues by the Senate Sergeant at Arms office and U.S. Capitol Police during their weekly conference lunch on Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter said. U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Hemingway and U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan are expected to attend the GOP policy lunch after being invited by Senate Majority Leader John Thune.In July, following the fatal shootings targeting state lawmakers in Minnesota, the House increased security funding and resources for lawmakers in their home districts as part of a new program. House Speaker Mike Johnson previously said that approximately 60 Democrats and 20 Republicans took advantage of the program, and he wants to examine what worked and what didn’t.On Sunday, Johnson said he’s been working to reassure House members about their personal security and congressional leaders are looking at “all the options” to bolster it.“I’ve been talking with a lot of them over the last few days about that and trying to calm the nerves to assure them that we will make certain that everyone has a level of security that’s necessary,” he said over the weekend on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”The speaker echoed calls from leaders from both parties on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to “turn down the rhetoric.”“There are some deranged people in society, and when they see leaders using that kind of language so often now, increasingly, it spurs them on to action,” he said, adding that he’s “heartened” to see “many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are stepping up and saying that.”

WASHINGTON —

The White House has requested an additional $58 million in security funding for the executive and judicial branches following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a Republican congressional aide said.

The funding request is being “actively processed” in the context of a stopgap funding bill, the aide said. Lawmakers are facing a looming end-of-month deadline to fund the government and stave off a shutdown, with House GOP leaders expected to move this week on a bill.

The request, by Punchbowl News, comes amid heightened concerns in Washington about security for public officials, including among members of Congress, in the wake of the Kirk assassination.

Senate Republicans will be briefed on security issues by the Senate Sergeant at Arms office and U.S. Capitol Police during their weekly conference lunch on Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter said. U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Hemingway and U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan are expected to attend the GOP policy lunch after being invited by Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

In July, following the fatal shootings targeting state lawmakers in Minnesota, the House increased security funding and resources for lawmakers in their home districts as part of a new program. House Speaker Mike Johnson previously said that approximately 60 Democrats and 20 Republicans took advantage of the program, and he wants to examine what worked and what didn’t.

On Sunday, Johnson said he’s been working to reassure House members about their personal security and congressional leaders are looking at “all the options” to bolster it.

“I’ve been talking with a lot of them over the last few days about that and trying to calm the nerves to assure them that we will make certain that everyone has a level of security that’s necessary,” he said over the weekend on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

The speaker echoed calls from leaders from both parties on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to “turn down the rhetoric.”

“There are some deranged people in society, and when they see leaders using that kind of language so often now, increasingly, it spurs them on to action,” he said, adding that he’s “heartened” to see “many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are stepping up and saying that.”

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