Staying Safe as A Congressional Staffer – Best Practices
With the August district work period in full swing, lawmakers are spending more than a month back home and away from the bustling and busy halls of Congress. For DC staff, this is the time to catch up on meetings and constituent correspondence, and to take a break from drafting floor and committee vote recommendations before Congress is back in September with a hefty to-do list. For district-based staff, this time is usually packed with county-to-county tours, state fairs, constituent meetings, long days on the road, and lots of time with the boss. District offices are usually flooded with meetings, visitors, events, and can see a huge increase in foot traffic while the Member is home.
Following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, the safety and security of Members, their families, and their staff is at the top of everyone’s minds. Both House Republicans and Democrats received security briefings in the week following the attack, expressing safety concerns for their own planned public events at home and in DC.
For many, it was a stark reminder that every day, Members of Congress face violent threats that can put themselves and their families at risk and leave staff worried and feeling unsafe.
Earlier this year, a Congressional Management Foundation “State of the Congress” survey found that both Republican and Democrat staff experience “direct insulting or threatening messages or communication somewhat frequently.” In May, a man pled guilty to threatening to kill a Congressional staffer and to making more than 12,000 harassing phone calls to Members of Congress in 2022 and 2023. According to Axios, “Capitol Police opened 8,008 threat assessment cases in 2023…an increase of more than 500 over 2022.” Multiple district offices have been attacked or vandalized in the last year, leaving staff unprepared to deal with these physical threats.
This violence underscores the importance of highlighting the available resources and solutions that keep Members and staff safe and secure. For the district work period, POPVOX Foundation has compiled some best practices informed by current Congressional staff to ensure the safety and security of Congressional teams. Additionally, the House Sergeant at Arms (HSAA) and the US Capitol Police (USCP) have many helpful guidelines for staff, Members, and constituents to follow in the office and at home, and those available resources are also shared below. For more information, we encourage you to reach out to HSAA at SAAmail@mail.house.gov or 202-225-2456.
1. Establish a relationship with local law enforcement
Make it a priority to have regular communication with local police officers and first responders in your district, so that they can stay up to date on the office’s events and the Member’s whereabouts. This helps them plan ahead for big district events that might need more police presence than usual — like a town hall — so they are available to quickly respond to an emergency or concern.
2. Keep important numbers in your personal and work phone on speed dial
Staff and Members don’t want to worry about finding the number for Capitol Police, or their local Police Chief, in the event of an emergency. Keeping these numbers on speed dial will help ensure first responders can get where they need to be ASAP.
Reporting an emergency within the Capitol Complex:
From a landline, dial 911
From a cell phone within the Capitol Complex:
US House of Representatives: (202) 225-0911
US Senate: (202) 224-0911
Library of Congress: (202) 707-7111
You can reach the HSAA at SAAmail@mail.house.gov or 202-225-2456.
3. Have a safety protocol in writing
Do the office’s interns know what to do if a threatening caller is on the phone? What if someone enters the office and is being disruptive or making staff feel unsafe? Knowing who to call, when to alert office management, and how to respond quickly to a threat can be vitally important. Ensure these steps are part of the office’s handbook, are refreshed annually, and are shared throughout the year with new staff and interns.
In the 117th Congress, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress recommended that the Capitol Switchboard track call information be transferred to Member offices. This recommendation was implemented in April 2024, enhancing “the US Capitol Police's (USCP) ability to identify and investigate individuals who make threatening or harassing calls to Member offices and will provide staff with a number they can use to follow up with constituents.”
Learn more about how to handle threatening callers and the switchboard upgrade.
4. Request a Security Awareness Briefing
In partnership with the USCP, the SAA hosts Security Awareness Briefings in Members’ districts. As shared by SAA William P. McFarland during this year’s FY25 budget testimony before the Legislative Branch Subcommittee on Appropriations, the briefings “provide a security overview for Members and staff on how to respond to typical security issues that an office encounters, and includes best practices for district office security, residential security, and for hosting and attending events in their district.”
In 2023, 110 briefings were provided. Working with SAA and USCP in-district can help staff feel empowered to keep themselves and their office safe in the event of an emergency. This also gives staff a contact at SAA and USCP which can aid in event preparation and for future security assessments in-district.
5. Encourage Member use of the residential security program
Administered by the HSAA since 2022, $10,000 is available for Members to boost or install security in their residential homes. These funds can be used to install security equipment such as motion sensors and cameras, with $150 allotted per month for maintenance costs as needed.
However, less than half of Members had utilized the program as of earlier this year. Members using the program said it is beneficial, and has helped their families to feel safer at home. For those considering this program, it is important to note that this funding does not come out of the Members Representational Allowance.
6. Share the “Spouse and Family Safety and Security Guide”
As shared by HSAA McFarland during his testimony, the SAA has created a “Spouse and Family Safety and Security Guide” focused on addressing security concerns of Member families. “The guide covers general security best practices, protecting personal identifiable information (PII), travel security, and emergency preparedness,” HSAA McFarland said. “It also provides emergency contact information and a fill-in template for family emergency contacts.” Ensuring the Member’s family has this guide and is equipped to handle an emergency is a proactive step and best practice that every office can follow.
For more information and how to find the most up-to-date security guidance and information, you can visit saa.house.gov (from inside the House network) and uscp.gov.
You can reach HSAA at SAAmail@mail.house.gov or 202-225-2456.
7. Funding and Support for Continued Security Improvements
The FY 2025 House Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Report – which has passed the full committee but not yet passed the full House – included key language and priorities addressing House security and the safety and security of Members and their staff.
These highlights include:
District Office Security Report, as requested in FY 2024
Risk-based protections for Members of Congress
Expanding the Residential Security Program to include cybersecurity and privacy resources
Congressional Continuity of Operations Plan
