Congressman Cohen Introduces the ‘‘Making Any Reimbursement Against the Law for Guarding Overnight Act’’ or the ‘‘MARALAGO Act’’
Prohibits Secret Service from spending federal dollars for lodging or meals at a facility owned or controlled by a president
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today introduced the ‘‘Making Any Reimbursement Against the Law for Guarding Overnight Act’’ or the ‘‘MARALAGO Act’’ of 2025. The legislation prohibits the Secret Service from spending federal dollars to pay a President or former President (or an entity that he or she owns or controls) for lodging, meals, and other incidental expenses while the Secret Service is protecting the President or former President at his or her residence.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach isn’t just Donald Trump’s home; it is a hotel and restaurant. When the Secret Service travels to Mar-a-Lago to protect the President, Donald Trump turns around and sends the hotel bill to taxpayers.
“In his previous term, Donald Trump charged the Secret Service more than $800 per night at least 11 times to stay at his properties, including Mar-a-Lago. It also paid $17,000 per month to rent a cottage at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. This continued into his post-presidency, when Trump continued to bill the Secret Service $396.15 per night to stay at his Florida resort. Between January 20, 2021 and April 30, 2021, spending records show the Secret Service paid more than $40,000 for hotel rooms at Mar-a-Lago.
“Secret Service protection should not be a financial conflict for a president. If he believes he needs protection at his property, the agents should deliver as they would with any president who has a home residence by protecting the home, but should sleep elsewhere. When they protected Biden in Delaware, they didn’t stay at Biden’s home.”
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