Ahead of the inauguration of the second Trump administration, changes to the U.S. Capitol Police are noticeable. This is due to the so-called ‘invasion incident’ that occurred in early 2021, and it is said that the budget alone has increased by more than 70%.
According to Politico, an American political media outlet, on the 25th (local time), the current annual budget of the Capitol Police amounts to $791.5 million (approximately 1.16 trillion won). This amount is an increase of more than 70% compared to January 2021, when the invasion of the National Assembly occurred.
Politico explains that although prices as well as the budget have risen due to inflation, the amount is still more than seven times higher than at the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks. It is expected to exceed approximately $1 billion (KRW 1.4662 trillion) next year.
Why did the United States increase the budget for the Capitol Police like this? It can be said that the intrusion incident was the direct cause. At the time, hard-core supporters of then-candidate Donald Trump refused to accept defeat and attacked Congress, which was certifying the election results.
After the unprecedented invasion, there was harsh criticism in American society against the authorities for failing to prepare for the situation. In particular, circumstances emerged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had identified the signs in advance and notified the Capitol Police, leading to the resignation of high-ranking officials.
Accordingly, the Capitol Police began strengthening its functions, including information collection and threat assessment, which resulted in a significant increase in the budget. Their position is to protect members of Congress not just within Congress but also in constituencies across the country.
The Capitol Police also worked hard to recruit manpower, which had been drained after the intrusion incident. As a result, the number of employees increased by about 300 to 400, and specialized fields such as emergency rescue also became more diverse. Authorities are still aggressively hiring.
However, as the budget increases, new concerns appear to be raised about its management. Politico reported that “questions about (budget) oversight have been sparked among some lawmakers,” and that attention is focused on whether safety has actually been improved.
Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith, a member of the House Administration Committee, said, “The Capitol Police process needs a lot of oversight,” and “(objects of oversight) include the budget.” He then emphasized, “There is a need to ensure greater transparency.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump, who won this year’s presidential election, is set to take office next year. Before taking office, an official procedure is required to confirm the election results for each state in Congress, and the scheduled date is January 6th of next year. 난입 사태 발생 딱 1년 되는 날이다.
First of all, it seems that there will be no chaos like 2021 this time. Above all, unlike back then, President-elect Trump won this time, and his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, quickly acknowledged defeat after the votes were counted.
Nevertheless, the Capitol Police are expected to focus on ensuring safety. It is known that a committee mobilizing not only the Capitol Police but also the Secret Service was put into operation several months before the election to prepare for possible terrorist or criminal attempts.
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