Monday, February 17, 2025
On Feb 17, 2025, Trump’s local Mar-a-Lago golf day cost U.S. taxpayers ~$421k for Secret Service, local police, motorcade, and incidentals, per open government reports and 2025 cost benchmarks.
ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN
Secret Service & Federal Security Detail: Mar-a-Lago / Trump Golf Club (peak off-site)
Secret Service provides full-day, peak off-site security at Mar-a-Lago and the West Palm Beach golf club. This includes overtime, per-diem, and logistics, based on GAO-19-178 and repeated confirmation in Frankel, Finance Monthly, Helsinki Times.
Local Law Enforcement (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office assists with traffic, perimeter, crowd control, and Presidential protection around Mar-a-Lago and golf course. Documented cost benchmark from Frankel.gov, Yahoo News, and Finance Monthly.
Motorcade & Ground Transport (short trip)
Full motorcade for Mar-a-Lago–Trump International Golf Club–Mar-a-Lago roundtrip. Estimated at $6k total per best-fit with Finance Monthly and security press.
Incidentals (support, logistics, meals, equipment)
Incidental federal outlays for logistics, meals, and extra staffing, capped at ≤15% of travel+security ($366k*0.15). Follows Cost Estimating Guide and GAO reporting standards.