Palm Beach County law enforcement would be reimbursed for security expenses tied to President Donald Trump’s visits to Mar-a-Lago under a $1 trillion agreement reached Sunday night.
The budget, which is expected to be voted on this week, includes more than $60 million for Palm Beach and New York City law enforcement costs associated with protecting Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago since the November election.
Trump’s seven visits to Mar-a-Lago since taking office and two stays as president-elect have cost local taxpayers nearly $4 million, the Palm Beach Daily News reported. His summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago resulted in a $1.5 million security tab, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
As part of a bipartisan agreement Sunday night that averted a government shutdown, Congress agreed to reimburse New York City, Palm Beach and other places that have hosted the president for pre- and post-inauguration protection.
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. [Palm Beach Daily News] – Katherine Kallergis