Senate subcommittee hears $1 billion-plus security requests from Capitol Police and Sergeant at Arms

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch heard testimony on fiscal 2026 funding requests from the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper and the United States Capitol Police on May 14, 2025. Chair Markwayne Mullin opened the hearing and invited written questions for the record; the subcommittee left the hearing record open for seven days, to close of business May 21, 2025.

Both witnesses framed their requests as responses to a growing threat environment and expanded mission requirements. Jennifer Hemingway, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the U.S. Senate, told the subcommittee the office seeks about $357 million for FY2026, an increase she said would support physical and cyber security, state office operations, and member protection. "Security is a significant piece of our day to day mission," Hemingway said, adding that in calendar year 2024 the office addressed more than 5,700 requests for law enforcement assistance, "a 35% increase over the prior year."

Chief Thomas Manger, Chief of the United States Capitol Police, described a larger total request for his agency and an expanded set of functions the department has taken on since 2021. "We saw threats against members increase to a staggering 9,400 in 1 year," Manger said. He summarized the U.S. Capitol Police FY2026 request as roughly $967.8 million in one part of the hearing and later described the request broken down as about $687 million for salaries and benefits, $255 million for general expenses, and $25 million in multiyear funding to sustain a mutual aid program. The department expects to reach about 2,530 sworn personnel by the end of FY2026, Manger said.

Witnesses and senators detailed why new and continuing programs drive the increases. Hemingway asked for a $5 million increase for the Office of Security, Emergency Preparedness and Continuity and requested $10.5 million in no‑year funds, of which she said $5.5 million would establish a state office operations fund to cover rent and leasehold improvements when regular appropriations are not available. She also requested a $3.2 million increase for the economic allocation fund to replace and upgrade technology in senator and committee offices and $2 million to continue Microsoft enterprise licensing.

Manger outlined programs the Capitol Police created after multiple inspector general after‑action reviews, including a standalone Intelligence Services Bureau, a Protective Intelligence Operations Center, and a new Office of Standards and Training Operations. He said the department has increased technical surveillance countermeasure inspections nearly 400% since 2021 and that member residential security assessments have almost doubled. Manger also described staffing priorities for the Dignitary Protection Division and said the department believes roughly 530 DPD agents are needed.

Committee members pressed on hiring, overtime and training capacity. Senators asked whether recruiting was the limiting factor and whether the force could speed hiring by using additional training centers beyond the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) sites the department currently uses. Manger said recruiting classes are full but that training‑facility capacity can be a choke point and that the department was assessing alternatives. Senator Mullin and others suggested exploring additional federal training center sites to increase throughput.

Members also questioned program costs and priorities. One senator raised concerns about the Office of Equity and Inclusion, citing its roughly $1 million cost and nine positions, and asked whether its activities were an appropriate use of funds; Manger and others defended OEI as a workforce‑management function the chief directly oversees. Senators emphasized balancing support for officers, fiscal stewardship and public access to the Capitol complex.

The subcommittee did not adopt any funding decisions at the hearing. Members were invited to submit statements and questions for the record during the seven‑day comment period, and Hemingway told the committee the Capitol Police Board was conducting a competitive search for a new chief and expected to act by the end of the month. The hearing record will be available for follow‑up questions and written materials.