The Senate Rules Committee and Senate Ethics Committee issued new joint guidance clarifying the permissible uses of appropriated member security funds that are intended for a Member’s safety and well-being. The new guidance affirms that these funds may be used for personal security services, including certain transportation and travel-related expenses for official, campaign, and personal purposes. However, the guidance clarifies that for personal and campaign transportation, the use of member security funds may only be used for the difference between the basic transportation expense and the upgrade for security purposes. Additionally, there must be a contemporaneous written record justifying the use of member security funds for campaign and personal travel.
Senate Member Regulations
In December 2025, the Senate Rules Committee adopted regulations on the permissible use of funds that are made available from the Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account for certain security products and services (“member security funds”). The regulations, in relevant part, permit funds to be used for “personal security services.” Personal security services are services provided by a “personal security entity” (i.e., a security firm, or a current or former law-enforcement officer) for the protection of the Member. Such services include “secure transportation and travel-related measures designed to support threat mitigation.” The regulations require a certification that the security services are provided for the protection of the Member or the Member’s residence.
Joint Guidance from Senate Rules Committee and Senate Ethics Committee
While the Senate Rules Committee had previously issued guidance on the regulations, the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Ethics Committee recently published a joint FAQ in response to inquiries regarding allowable uses of member security funds. For instance, member security funds may be used to secure an event hosted and paid for by a Member (e.g., magnetometers or security personnel to screen the crowd at a Member’s town hall), but not to secure an event hosted by a third party. Member security funds also may not be used to pay official employees, including salaries or reimbursements for mileage or lodging, and regardless of whether the employee’s job is related to providing or coordinating security.
The new joint guidance provides that if a Member’s transportation expenses are for a campaign or personal event, the basic transportation expense (e.g., business or economy air fare) must be paid with campaign or personal funds, as appropriate. However, the additional expense incurred for the protection of the Member (e.g., the difference between first class airfare and economy airfare) may be paid with member security funds.
Note that member security funds may be used to fully pay for the travel expenses (e.g., transportation, meals and hotel rooms) of contracted personal security officers when they are traveling with a Member, including for campaign and personal travel. However, this is only applicable if such expenses are included in the contract as owed by the Member.
The Senate Ethics Committee reserves the right to request information regarding the use of member security funds for campaign or personal travel or events. Such information includes a “contemporaneous written record” that the determination to use member security funds was recommended for the personal protection of the Member, which should include the criteria considered to justify the use of member security funds.
The joint guidance includes the following example:
Senator plans to attend a personal dinner with his wife. Previously, Senator would drive himself and his wife in his own car to a personal event. Based on a reconsideration of possible threats, Senator hires a car service to drive him and his wife to the personal dinner. Senator’s office should keep a contemporaneous written record (i.e. memorandum to office file) of the Senator’s determination that a car service is necessary for personal protection, including the factors the Senator considered (e.g., recent threats to the office or to other government officials) in making his security assessment.
What This Means
By issuing this clarifying guidance, the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Ethics Committee are putting Members on notice that each use of member security funds for the Member’s personal and political travel must be limited to necessary security upgrades and must also be justified in writing.
Elias Law Group lawyers are available to advise further on the use of member security funds and other travel-related questions that involve non-official purposes.