Secret Service faces unprecedented threats and rising costs amid 2024 election
The U.S. Secret Service is facing growing challenges this election season as political tensions spill over into violence. The cost of protecting the nation's political leaders has skyrocketed. With two in two months, new questions are emerging about how well the Secret Service is equipped to keep high-profile candidates safe.
In a news conference Monday, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe spoke about his agency's challenges.
"Our folks are rising to this moment but it requires us to all have good conversations and make sure that we're getting the Secret Service where it needs to be," Rowe said. He emphasized the agency's 8,300 agents are stretched thin, particularly those assigned to protective operations.
The Secret Service currently operates with a $3.6 billion budget, of which over $1 billion is dedicated to protective operations, the agency's budget documents show. However, Rowe said this funding level is not adequate to keep up with the demands of an election season full of unprecedented threats.
"You can't just give me money and say we're going to make sure everybody gets overtime. The men and women of the Secret Service are redlining right now," Rowe said Monday. Rowe has called for what he describes as a "protection paradigm shift," moving from a reactive model to a readiness posture.
The strain on resources has been particularly evident over the last 60 days. In that time, the Secret Service has evacuated Trump from a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, secured both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, provided protection for the Israeli Prime Minister's state visit, and safeguarded the first presidential debate of 2024. Most recently, agents thwarted a potential assassination attempt at Trump's golf course in Florida.
, said protecting presidential candidates requires more than just money. Tyler shared insights into the mindset of individuals who threaten political figures.
"Their mindsets are different. They're calm. I haven't met one in my entire career that I can remember that was stressed, that was angry," Tyler said.
Police said they saw that calm demeanor in the suspect involved in Sunday's attempt on Trump's life.
"When you're assigned to protect someone who's received threats, you have to be prepared for anything, whether it's a conversation or someone opening fire," Tyler said.
The Biden administration and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have expressed support for the Secret Service's call for additional resources. However, how much funding will ultimately be allocated remains unclear.
