Fact Check: Every U.S. president has security detail that costs the taxpayers money no matter where they go.

The Claim: "Every U.S. president has security detail that costs the taxpayers money no matter where they go."

Introduction

The claim suggests that all U.S. presidents, both current and former, receive taxpayer-funded security details regardless of their location. This assertion raises questions about the extent of government expenditure on presidential security and the implications for taxpayers.

What We Know

1. Presidential Security: The U.S. Secret Service is mandated to provide protection to the president, vice president, and their immediate families under Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 3056. This protection is funded by taxpayers and is in effect regardless of the president's location, including during personal travel 10.

2. Costs of Security: According to various reports, the costs associated with presidential security can be substantial. For example, a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that the Secret Service incurs significant expenses related to protecting presidents and former presidents, although specific figures can vary year by year 14.

3. Former Presidents: After leaving office, former presidents receive a pension and have access to federal funds for office staff and security. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation reported that taxpayers have spent approximately $68 million since 2000 on supporting former presidents, excluding Secret Service costs 69.

4. Specific Expenditures: A report highlighted that the Secret Service spent nearly $2 million at properties owned by former President Trump during his time in office, raising concerns about the financial implications of protecting a president who has business interests 8.

5. Overall Security Budget: The U.S. Secret Service's budget overview indicates that a significant portion of its funding is allocated to overtime and support for presidential campaigns, which further contributes to the overall costs borne by taxpayers 5.

Analysis

The claim that every U.S. president has a taxpayer-funded security detail is supported by legal mandates and historical practices. However, the extent of the costs and the implications of these expenditures require careful examination.

• Source Reliability: The GAO reports 12 are credible as they are produced by a non-partisan government agency that provides oversight and accountability for federal spending. However, reports from advocacy groups like the National Taxpayers Union Foundation 69 may carry a bias towards minimizing government spending, which could influence their interpretations of the data.

• Methodology Concerns: While the GAO provides comprehensive data on security costs, the figures can vary based on numerous factors, including the specific security needs of each president and the nature of their travel. The lack of detailed breakdowns in some reports makes it challenging to fully assess the financial impact on taxpayers.

• Conflicts of Interest: The report detailing expenditures at Trump properties raises ethical questions about potential conflicts of interest when a sitting president's business interests intersect with government spending 8. Such situations could lead to inflated costs and should be scrutinized.

• Supporting and Contradicting Evidence: While many sources confirm that taxpayer money funds presidential security, there is a lack of comprehensive data on how these costs compare to other government expenditures. Additional information on the average costs of security for each president and how these figures have changed over time would provide a clearer picture.

Conclusion

Verdict: True

The claim that every U.S. president has a security detail funded by taxpayers, regardless of their location, is substantiated by legal requirements and historical practices. Evidence indicates that the U.S. Secret Service is mandated to provide protection to both current and former presidents, with costs incurred by taxpayers. Reports from credible sources, such as the Government Accountability Office, confirm that these security measures are in place and funded by public money.

However, it is important to note that while the claim is true, the extent of the costs associated with presidential security can vary significantly based on individual circumstances, including the nature of travel and specific security needs. Additionally, there are ethical considerations regarding potential conflicts of interest, particularly in cases where a president has business interests that may intersect with security expenditures.

The available evidence does have limitations, particularly regarding the comprehensive breakdown of costs and the potential biases of some reporting sources. Therefore, while the claim holds true, readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information and consider the broader context of government spending on presidential security.

Sources

1. Former Presidents: Office and Security Costs and Other Information - GAO Report https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-01-983
2. Former Presidents: Office and Security Costs and Other Information - GAO Report https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-983/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-983.htm
3. 60 Minutes Overtime Secret Service paid over $12 million https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/117528/documents/HHRG-118-GO00-20240722-SD077.pdf
4. Presidential Travel: Secret Service and DOD Need to https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-178
5. U.S. Secret Service Budget Overview https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/U.S.%20Secret%20Service_Remediated.pdf
6. How Much American Presidents Really Cost US Taxpayers https://www.voanews.com/a/usa_all-about-america_how-much-american-presidents-really-cost-us-taxpayers/6174167.html
7. What do taxpayers spend to support former US presidents? https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/what-taxpayers-spend-support-ex-presidents/275-ee0205f2-1def-4564-8e31-2a0e78aa92f3
8. The Secret Service spent nearly $2 million at Trump properties https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/the-secret-service-spent-nearly-2-million-at-trump-properties/
9. Congress Should Roll Back Perks to Ex-Presidents Costing Taxpayers $4 Million Annually https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/congress-should-roll-back-perks-to-ex-presidents-costing-taxpayers-4-million-annually
10. The Hidden Costs: Maintaining Presidents, Former Presidents and Their Families https://medium.com/@herzogmedia1/the-hidden-costs-maintaining-presidents-former-presidents-and-their-families-cfb69c77a90a