Ro Khanna, a Democrat, represents California’s 17th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the ranking Democrat of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems.
By Ro Khanna
The current political climate and increased threats of violence demand that the Secret Service provide Trump with the same level of protection as a sitting president. As Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said following the assassination attempt on Sunday, this would have secured the entire golf course where the incident occurred.
As lawmakers return to session this week, they should take the following steps to ensure that the former president and anyone in his position are protected from political violence.
First, Secret Service acting director Ronald Rowe must come to Congress to share what additional resources and personnel are needed to expand the protective perimeter. At Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., the shooter was within 150 yards of the stage, and the Secret Service was relying on local law enforcement to secure the outer perimeter. In the second assassination attempt, the shooter was 300 to 500 yards away from Trump on the perimeter of the golf course.
In both cases, it is unacceptable that an armed individual could reach such close proximity to a former president and the Republican Party nominee. The agency must tell Congress what funding is needed so that a greater number of Secret Service agents can travel with Trump and secure the perimeter of the spaces he visits.
Congress should also consult with the Justice Department, including the FBI and National Security Division, Homeland Security, and any other agencies involved in investigating the attacks to increase protection and evaluate what steps must be taken in addition to strengthening the protective perimeter.
Once we understand what resources and manpower are needed to expand security for the former president, Congress should not leave until we have a bipartisan vote to swiftly allocate this funding to increase Secret Service resources. This shouldn’t have to take more than a single day.
If we can allocate nearly $1 trillion every year to the Defense Department, we can afford to expand resources to protect candidates, former presidents and the stability of our nation. As the ranking Democrat of a House Armed Services subcommittee, I will engage with leaders in Congress to secure the needed resources.
After the first assassination attempt on Trump, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before the House Oversight Committee, where I called for her to resign. With new leadership at the agency, I hope to see a full and transparent investigation into the security failures that allowed for a second assassination attempt to ensure there is accountability. We need answers about how the alleged shooter knew of Trump’s schedule — and whether he acted alone.
The Secret Service must also immediately resolve any bureaucratic issues that prevent perimeter protection for nominees given the political climate — and for former presidents when there are obvious threats.
An attack on a former or current president is one of the greatest threats to our democracy and national security. What makes America extraordinary is our commitment to free and fair elections and resolving our political differences, in a very diverse nation, at the ballot box.
Increasing security for the former president should be a bipartisan effort and a no-brainer. We must put politics aside and vote to urgently address the rising threats of political violence and protect our leaders. A failure to do so could lead to dire consequences that rip this nation apart at a fragile moment.
