Bedminster Awarded Federal Funds For Trump Protection

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Somerset County and Bedminster will now be reimbursed for providing presidential protection whenever Donald Trump flies into town.

The federal funds, secured by Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) and Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson, total nearly $1 million.

The money will be distributed to Somerset County, the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, Morristown Township and Bedminster Township through the FEMA FY17 Presidential Residence Protection Assistance (PRPA) Grant Program.

Somerset County will be awarded $579,088 and Bedminster $54,077.42 while $281,821.58 will be given to the Department of Law & Public Safety and $30,721.69 to Morristown

“The extraordinary men and women of New Jersey law enforcement do a terrific job every day of the week and in the past year have risen to the occasion and supported the protection of the President of the United States while he visits New Jersey," Lance stated. "These responsibilities come at a cost – one I believe should be a federal expense, not a burden on local taxpayers."

The president's visit to Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster in November 2016 cost the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office almost $18,000 for 208 hours of overtime. And more than 100 hours of overtime for the Bedminster Police cost close to $4,000.

Lance had been pushing for federal funds to help offset the security expenses for more than a year now. He had previously wrote a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch in December 2016 asking the United States Department of Justice to cover the costs of security required to protect President Trump, his family and dignitaries when they visit Bedminster.

• See Related: Trump Protection Will Cost Bedminster, Lance Asks Feds For Relief

Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli of Somerset also joined efforts to seek reimbursements for Trump's frequent visits to Bedminster and the state of New Jersey in June.

• See Related: Ciattarelli Seeks Reimbursement For Trump's Visits To Bedminster

“The brave men and women of law enforcement have been tasked with this important responsibility for the country," Robertson said. "They have done and will continue to do an excellent job of protecting the President, his guests and the community residents. But these costs belong to the federal government and I am pleased to have worked with Congressman Lance and the federal government on this solution.”

The Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster was considered a ‘residence of the President’ in July and making the township eligible to apply to receive federal grants exclusively for providing reimbursement of law enforcement personnel costs for protection activities.

• See Related: Bedminster Awarded Trump Protection Relief

(Image via Getty Images/Pool)

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