United States Secret Service

United States Secret Service
Agency name	United States Secret Service
Formed	July 5, 1865
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Employees	Classified
Chief1 name	Kimberly Cheatle
Chief1 position	Director
Parent department	United States Department of Homeland Security

United States Secret Service. Established in 1865 to combat counterfeiting of U.S. currency, its mission dramatically expanded following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. Today, it is renowned for its dual mandate of safeguarding national financial infrastructure and providing protection for top government leaders. The agency operates under the umbrella of the United States Department of Homeland Security after being transferred from the United States Department of the Treasury in 2003.

History

The agency was created on July 5, 1865, by order of President Abraham Lincoln, primarily to suppress the widespread counterfeiting that threatened the post-American Civil War economy. Its early operatives, often drawn from the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and other law enforcement backgrounds, worked under the United States Department of the Treasury. The pivotal moment in its evolution occurred after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901, when Congress informally requested full-time protection for the President of the United States; this role was made permanent by law in 1906. Throughout the 20th century, its protective responsibilities grew to include candidates, visiting heads of state, and major events like national special security events, culminating in its transfer to the newly formed United States Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

Mission and responsibilities

The agency maintains a two-fold mission: protection and investigation. Its protective mission encompasses the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, their immediate families, former presidents, visiting foreign heads of state, and major presidential candidates as designated by the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Its investigative mission focuses on safeguarding the nation’s financial and critical infrastructure, combating financial crime such as counterfeiting, access device fraud, computer fraud, and identity theft. It also investigates threats against its protectees and plays a key role in securing events designated as national special security events, such as presidential inaugurations and major international summits.

Organization and structure

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the agency is led by a Director, currently Kimberly Cheatle, who reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security. It is divided into two primary operational branches: the Protective Division and the Investigative Division. The Protective Division includes details like the Presidential Protective Division, the Vice Presidential Protective Division, and field offices that support protective operations nationwide. The Investigative Division includes the Electronic Crimes Special Agent Program and numerous field offices that work closely with other agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local United States Attorney's offices. Key support components include the James J. Rowley Training Center and specialized units like the Counter Surveillance Division and the Technical Security Division.

Training and equipment

New agents undergo intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and the agency's own James J. Rowley Training Center in Maryland. The curriculum includes criminal law, protective operations, physical fitness, defensive tactics, and advanced firearms proficiency. Agents are equipped with sophisticated technology, including secure communications systems, advanced counter-sniper rifles, and electronic countermeasures. The agency's Uniformed Division utilizes armored vehicles, chemical detection equipment, and works in concert with elite military units like the White House Military Office and the United States Capitol Police to secure perimeters during major events.

Notable operations and incidents

The agency's history is marked by both successful operations and tragic failures. It successfully thwarted attempts, such as the 1950 Blair House attack on President Harry S. Truman by Puerto Rican nationalists. However, it is also defined by catastrophic protective failures, most notably the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas in 1963 and the Reagan assassination attempt in 1981, which led to major reforms in protective procedures. More recent incidents include the 2014 White House fence jumper who breached the North Portico and the security failures surrounding the January 6 United States Capitol attack, which prompted intense scrutiny from committees like the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Legal authority and oversight

The agency's primary legal authorities are derived from Title 18 of the United States Code, specifically sections related to protection and financial crimes. Its protective role is codified in the Presidential Protection Assistance Act of 1976. It operates under the oversight of several congressional bodies, including the United States House Committee on Homeland Security and the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Internal oversight is conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. Its actions and operations are also subject to judicial review, and it frequently coordinates with the United States Department of Justice on prosecutions.

Category:United States Secret Service Category:1865 establishments in the United States Category:United States Department of Homeland Security agencies