Secret Service says it will run out of budget to protect Trump and his family on September 30
The President is on track to spend more on travel in his first year than Barack Obama did in his entire presidency
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Your support makes all the difference.United States Secret Service agents may be working overtime without pay this autumn, after more than nine months of expensive coverage of Donald Trump.
Mr Trump’s frequent travels to his many resorts, alongside his large family, have put a strain on the Secret Service that hasn’t been seen with past presidents. As a result, if predetermined salary caps aren’t raised, the budget limit intended to last through December will be hit September 30.
“The Secret Service estimates that roughly 1,100 employees will work overtime in excess of statutory pay caps during calendar year 2017,” Director Randolph “Tex” Alles said in a statement provided to the Washington Post. “To remedy this ongoing and serious problem, the agency has worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security, the Administration, and the Congress over the past several months to find a legislative solution.”
Mr Trump’s presidency has been costlier than the security for past presidents, since the President enjoys taking trips to Florida and New Jersey when he can. He owns golf resorts in both of those locations, and has spent a significant amount of time at both during his presidency. Those trips require constant Secret Service protection, and often means that agents spend that time away from their families, accruing overtime when applicable.
Of course, Mr Trump isn’t the first president to take a break from the White House, although he has done it more frequently than the most recent presidents.
There are other reasons keeping Mr Trump safe is expensive as well. The administration has 42 people who are getting protection around the clock — compared to the 31 people who received such treatment during the Obama administration. That includes 18 member’s of the Trump family, like his four adult children, some of whom are protected as they travel around the world conducting business for the Trump family enterprise.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the spending cap has been exceeded, though it would be a significantly larger breach. Usually, just 300 agents are affected by the spending limits. More recently, 1,300 agents were affected during the 2016 campaign, when agents had to protect Mr Obama, as well as the campaigns for Mr Trump and his Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton.
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