Mayor Bowser says DC's safety fund is exhausted after Trump event on July 4th

Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, wrote a letter to President Donald Trump to inform him that his July 4 extravaganza at Lincoln Memorial had helped to dangerously deplete a municipal fund used to ensure security during the day. Special events like town reunions and funerals the city is fully reimbursed.

Bowser said the president's event, coupled with additional protests around the holidays, had cost the city $ 1.7 million.

"We are asking for your help to ensure that residents of the District of Columbia are not invited to cover millions of dollars in federal spending and that they are able to maintain our high standards of protection for federal events," wrote Bowser.

Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images

The depleted account, known as the Emergency Planning and Security Fund, is expected to run a $ 6 million deficit by the end of the fiscal year, writes Bowser.

"It is essential that the EPS receive full repayment of these funds to ensure that the district can maintain adequate security and support during the rest of the year, without generating a deficit for federal activities." , wrote Bowser.

Bowser also wrote that the city had not been reimbursed for the $ 7.3 million security costs associated with the president's inauguration in 2017.

Although the president's July 4 event contributed to the exhaustion of the account, Bowser also spoke of the underfunding of the Congress and other major unplanned events, such as the Former President George HW Bush's funeral, which contributed to the depletion of the fund.

Joshua Roberts / Reuters

The White House did not immediately respond to Bowser's letter. But the president has announced his intention to organize a similar event on July 4 next.

"It was something really special, and I will say this: It was a wonderful day for all Americans, and because of its tremendous success, we are just making the decision – and I can think we can say that we "We have taken the lead – to do it again next year and, maybe we can say, in the foreseeable future," Trump said Monday.

In addition to the costs borne by the city, the Pentagon estimated that the president's event "Hi to America" ​​had cost the military $ 1.2 million. The costs for the army included military overflights and transportation of Abrams tanks and Bradley combat vehicles.

The Interior Ministry has not yet published an estimate of the costs associated with the completion of the event, which also depended heavily on the National Parks Service.