Chairman of House Administration Cautions Against Proposed Cut to U.S. Capitol Police Budget; Says Cut Would Paralyze the Force’s Ability to Protect Complex

WASHINGTON – Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Dan Lungren, R-Calif., issued the following statement cautioning against a proposed amendment to H.R. 1 that would force U.S. Capitol Police to layoff hundreds of officers:

“Initial estimates indicate that an 11% cut to the U.S. Capitol Police's budget - already under enormous strain – would result in the number of our sworn officers being reduced by the hundreds. A cut this size would paralyze the force's ability to protect the Capitol complex.

"I understand and fully support efforts to reduce federal spending, but I cannot and will not support a cut that will be of such great consequence to the safety of this institution."