Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been under additional security since February, The Washington Post reported on Friday, a factor that could cost the government as much as $7.8 million through September.
The U.S. Marshals Service said a threat assessment for DeVos in February required her to be placed under additional security detail, and that the agency would be reimbursed for the extra cost by the Education Department.
The Education Department said the $7.8 million figure is only an estimate of the cost. While past education secretaries have had security details, they are typically protected by department employees, rather than the Marshals Service.
An unidentified department employee told the Post that members of the in-house security team remain on the payroll but are not guarding DeVos and have not been assigned new duties.
A department spokesman said his agency would defer to the federal marshals and their determination about the necessary protections for the Education secretary.
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As a result, the Marshals Service is hiring 22 additional employees to guard DeVos, according to The Post.
The threat assessment reportedly followed an episode in February, in which DeVos was blocked from entering a Washington, D.C., public school by protesters. She was eventually able to enter the school.
DeVos was narrowly confirmed in early February after Vice President Pence cast the tie-breaking vote. The Senate had deadlocked on her confirmation 50-50, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against DeVos.