A bill released Tuesday night to fund the federal government through April contains $7 million to reimburse New York for the cost of protecting President-elect Donald Trump.
{mosads}The bill designates $7 million for overtime paid by state and local law enforcement agencies to protect Trump from Nov. 9 through his inauguration on Jan. 20. The money can only go toward overtime pay for officers maintaining security for Trump.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and 10 lawmakers representing the state previously asked for $35 million for the total cost of protecting Trump. The president-elect has spent most of his time since the election at his home in Trump Tower, in the heart of New York’s bustling Manhattan borough.
New York lawmakers panned the provision.
“New York taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for the federal responsibility of protecting the President-elect, and I will work to ensure a future funding bill makes New York City whole,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D), a veteran lawmaker whose district includes Trump Tower, said she was “extremely disappointed” in the amount dedicated to the “unprecedented security costs incurred to keep the President-elect and his family safe between the election and his inauguration.”
“While I have no doubt that the [New York Police Department] will continue to do its part to secure the area around Trump Tower and meet the Secret Service’s high standard, our great city shouldn’t have to foot the bill for these extraordinary security measures all by ourselves,” said Maloney in a statement. “That is why my colleagues and I made this request a priority item in the closing days of this Congress.”
Since the spending bill doesn’t specify New York, that money could also go to state and local police officers protecting Trump during his “thank you” tour of rallies across the country.
This post was updated at 8:50 p.m.