Whenever former President Donald Trump visits his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, it places a significant financial strain on the local community. The 7th congressional district, represented by Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), often sees local government resources and personnel tied up in ensuring the safety of these high-profile visits, with little to no reimbursement from the Secret Service. Today, Kean introduced the Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act, a bill that aims to address this issue.
The legislation would authorize the Secret Service to reimburse state and local governments for the costs incurred when assisting with presidential security. This move is especially pertinent for small towns like Bedminster, where local budgets are often stretched thin by the demands of providing security for high-profile visitors.
“The Secret Service can fully accomplish their mission when they have robust partnerships with local law enforcement agencies,” Kean stated. “Currently, a significant amount of that partnership is funded by small-town taxpayers and local budgets. I wrote this commonsense legislation to ensure that adequate resources are readily available to supplement each and every security plan.”
The need for such legislation has become more urgent in the wake of this summer’s attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. The incident, which exposed critical communication lapses between the Secret Service and local law enforcement, has led to increased security measures at public events, further burdening local governments like those in New Jersey.
Somerset County Commission Director Shanel Robinson, a Democrat, has voiced her support for Kean’s bill, acknowledging the vital role local law enforcement plays in protecting national figures. “Mobilizing at the levels required often comes at significant fiscal cost to local governments,” Robinson said. “We are fully on board with this legislation to authorize reimbursements to local law enforcement for their patriotic services.”
If passed, Kean’s bill would relieve small towns of the financial burden associated with presidential visits, ensuring that local resources are adequately supported while maintaining essential security partnerships. This initiative represents a pragmatic step towards balancing national security needs with the financial realities faced by local governments.
