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The shooting near President Donald Trump and several members of the Cabinet on Saturday night sheds light on the Secret Service’s underfunding amid ongoing debates in Congress.
A gunman opened fire outside the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, where celebrities, members of the media and administration officials were gathered, prompting a rapid security response. The suspect has been arrested and is yet to be identified. It is reported that one Secret Service agent was shot while wearing a protective vest but was not injured.
The incident occurred near a security checkpoint, prompting the immediate response of the Secret Service and law enforcement.
The shooting comes amid more than 60 days of funding debate in Congress over the Department of Homeland Security — a deadline driven by Democrats blocking funding bills and rejecting several GOP-backed proposals to reopen the department.
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President Donald Trump is pictured during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. (Bo Erickson/Reuters)
The funding disagreement has centered on disputes over immigration enforcement policy and raised concerns about the resources of agencies including the Secret Service, FEMA and the US Coast Guard.
The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, vice president, their families and other top US officials, as well as visiting heads of state, has faced increasing demands in recent years.
The incident adds to a growing list of threats against Trump, including two confirmed assassination attempts and a recent incident involving an armed robber at Mar-a-Lago.
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US Marshalls walk through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after gunshots rang out during the Correspondents’ Dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, April 25, 2026. The smart teams took up position on the stage where President Donald Trump was sitting before he was escorted out. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
Senate Democrats refused to fund DHS with general appropriations earlier this year following a deadly January incident involving immigrants, which led to a 60-day deficit. Negotiations are still on hold. Democrats are seeking changes to DHS operations, while Republicans are relying on additional funding to continue enforcement.
Republicans are considering funding the department for the rest of Trump’s term through budget reconciliation, the same process used for immigration funding last year.
The firing also comes as the Secret Service faces increasing pressure during a high-risk election cycle.
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Security officials respond when a gunman opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Last week, Secret Service Director Sean Curran warned lawmakers that the agency is understaffed to meet the demands of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Olympics and the 2028 presidential cycle, citing growing concerns about staffing and resources.
As more details emerge from the investigation into this latest shooting, questions continue to rise about whether the Secret Service has the resources necessary to handle the looming crisis.
