[Jimbuna]

Congress raids presidential campaign fund in surprise reversal

Congress quietly drained hundreds of millions of dollars from a largely unused presidential campaign fund to provide a jolt of cash to the United States Secret Service and election security grants.

The massive raid of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund was included late last week in Congress’ latest government funding package, which President Joe Biden signed into law.

Raw Story could not confirm which member, or members, of Congress are responsible for inserting language in the middle of the 1,012-page bill that tapped the fund to the tune of $375 million.

But the ramifications are clear: The Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which publicly funded White House aspirants’ campaigns from the 1970s to late 2000s, will now provide $320 million to the Secret Service and $55 million for election security grants as a part of the $1.2 trillion funding package that averted a partial government shutdown, according to a Raw Story review of legislation.

The $320 million will be directed to “operations and support” for the U.S. Secret Service, according to the legislation, which provided 11th-hour funding to major government departments through September.

The Secret Service, which provides security for the president, vice president (and such candidates), along with foreign heads of state, can use the funds for a variety of purposes — from purchasing vehicles to overtime pay to travel accommodations. Former President Donald Trump, in particular, has refused to reimburse local law enforcement at his presidential campaign rallies, and the Secret Service has previously stated that it cannot reimburse municipal governments for these public safety costs because it hasn't received money from Congress to do so.

The Secret Service acknowledged questions sent by Raw Story, including those about how the agency would use its new funding windfall. But, it did not respond by the time of publication.

A member of the Secret Service stands watch as Marine One, with U.S. President Joe Biden onboard, lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House October 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The $55 million designated for “election security grants” will be distributed to states within 45 days by the Election Assistance Commission to “improve the administration of elections for Federal office, including to enhance election technology and make election security improvements,” the bill said.
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