In recent weeks, there's been a growing outcry on social media over First Lady Melania Trump's decision to continue living in New York City, and the growing cost of the security for protecting her and President Trump's 11-year-old son Barron.

Now that outcry has gone beyond Facebook and Twitter rants to a fast-growing petition, which calls for Melania Trump to move to the White House or pay the cost of her protection by the Secret Service and New York City police.

By mid-day Friday, the Change.org petition had more than 436,000 signatures. If the petition gets a half-million signers, it will be forwarded to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

"The U.S. taxpayer is paying an exorbitant amount of money to protect the First Lady in Trump Tower, located in New York City," the petition reads. "As to help relieve the national debt, this expense yields no positive results for the nation and should be cut from being funded."

The petition is largely symbolic, and it's unclear whether Warren or Sanders would introduce any legislation that would require the Trumps to cover the cost for the extra security.

After President Trump was sworn into office in January, Melania Trump and Barron returned to New York City, where he is attending school. The White House announced that at some point, Melania and Barron would be relocating to Washington, DC, but it's unclear when that will happen.

The New York Police Department has estimated that it costs between $127,000 and $146,000 per day to protect Melania Trump and her son. That amount is expected to increase significantly when President Trump visits New York City, which he hasn't done since the inauguration.

-- Grant Butler

503-221-8566; @grantbutler