Congress reached a deal to set aside $68 million that will likely be split between New York City and Florida to cover security costs for President Trump, which local officials estimate could cost as much as $183 million each year.
As part of a bipartisan agreement Sunday night that averted a government shutdown, Congress agreed to reimburse the city and other places that have hosted the president for pre- and post-inauguration protection, the Daily News reported.
The New York City Police Department says it costs $500,000 each day to provide security in and around Trump Tower, a figure that could reach as much as $183 million per year. So far, the city’s only been reimbursed for $7 million of the $35 million it’s requested from Congress.
A day before the deal, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said the city should refuse to provide police protection for the First Lady and Barron Trump unless Congress agreed to cover the expense, and sought a way to put it in the budget with Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey of Westchester.
“Critical to New York, I am pleased the Omnibus provides $68 million to reimburse law enforcement agencies for costs incurred helping to protect President Trump and the First Family,” Lowey said.
The compromise budget deal includes $15 billion in new defense spending to fight terrorism and $1.5 billion in new border-security spending to upgrade infrastructure and technology, the newspaper reported.
The budget does not set aside any new funds for a Mexico border wall. Trump is expected to visit Manhattan this week to host a celebration on the USS Intrepid, his first trip home as president. [NYDN] – Rich Bockmann