What Happened to United States Secret Service?
The U.S. Secret Service, established in 1865 to combat counterfeiting, evolved to include presidential protection in 1901 and transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. In recent years, the agency has faced intense scrutiny following a 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, leading to leadership changes, significant budget increases, and an ambitious hiring surge to address staffing shortages and a "highly volatile" threat environment, including advanced drone threats, as of mid-2026.
Quick Answer
The U.S. Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency with a dual mission of protecting national leaders and investigating financial and cybercrimes. Following a high-profile assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July 2024, the agency underwent significant leadership changes, including the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle and the appointment of Sean M. Curran in January 2025. As of July 2026, the Secret Service is implementing a major hiring initiative to combat burnout and expand its workforce to over 10,000 personnel by 2028, while also investing in new technologies to counter a "highly volatile" threat landscape, particularly from unmanned aerial systems.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
U.S. Secret Service Established
The Secret Service was created as a bureau within the Treasury Department to suppress widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency following the Civil War.
Presidential Protection Mission Added
Following the assassination of President William McKinley, Congress formally requested Secret Service protection for U.S. presidents, expanding its mission beyond financial investigations.
Transferred to Department of Homeland Security
The Secret Service was moved from the Treasury Department to the newly established Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of a post-9/11 federal reorganization.
Former Presidents Protection Act Enacted
This act reversed a previous law, ensuring lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents and their spouses, and for children of former presidents until age 16.
Kimberly Cheatle Appointed Director
President Joe Biden appointed Kimberly Cheatle as the 27th Director of the U.S. Secret Service, making her the second woman to hold the position.
Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump
An individual attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring Trump and killing one attendee, highlighting significant security lapses.
Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns
Following intense criticism and investigations into the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt, Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position.
Secret Service Prioritization Act Introduced
Congressman Andy Biggs introduced legislation aimed at refocusing the Secret Service solely on its protective mission by transferring non-protective responsibilities, such as financial crime investigations, to the FBI.
Sean M. Curran Appointed Director
President Donald Trump appointed Sean M. Curran, former head of his protective detail, as the 28th Director of the U.S. Secret Service.
Recruitment Numbers Skyrocket
The Secret Service reported a nearly 200% increase in recruitment applications in the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, from 7,000 in early 2024 to 22,000 in early 2025.
Ambitious Hiring Surge Announced
The Secret Service launched one of its most ambitious hiring efforts, aiming to recruit 4,000 new employees by 2028 to increase its workforce to over 10,000 and combat agent burnout.
Multi-city EBT Fraud and Skimming Outreach Operations
The Secret Service, with law enforcement partners, conducted multi-city operations targeting Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud and payment card skimming, preventing millions in potential losses.
OIG Report Highlights Understaffing and Planning Deficiencies
A DHS Inspector General report found the Secret Service was understaffed by an average of 21.4% in FY23-24, relying on extensive overtime and external partners, and lacked effective planning processes.
Director Warns of 'Highly Volatile' Threat Environment
Director Sean Curran stated the agency is operating in a "highly volatile" threat environment, citing an unprecedented surge in threats and deploying new drone mitigation technology. He also updated on enhanced security for the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner following an April assassination attempt.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The United States Secret Service (USSS) was founded on July 5, 1865, under the Treasury Department, primarily to combat widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency following the Civil War. Its protective mission, for which it is now most widely known, was added in 1901 after the assassination of President William McKinley, marking a significant expansion of its responsibilities. In 2003, the agency was transferred from the Treasury Department to the newly formed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of a broader reorganization of federal agencies after the September 11 attacks.
The period leading up to mid-2024 saw the Secret Service grappling with persistent challenges, including staffing shortages and an increasing operational tempo. These issues came to a head on July 13, 2024, when an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump occurred at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident, which resulted in injuries to Trump and others, exposed significant operational failures in communications, protective advance processes, and command and control. This event triggered intense congressional scrutiny and internal reviews, with the agency itself acknowledging it as its "most significant operational failure" in decades.
In the immediate aftermath of the July 2024 attack, then-Director Kimberly Cheatle, who had been appointed in September 2022, faced mounting pressure and ultimately resigned on July 23, 2024. Her departure led to the appointment of Sean M. Curran as the 28th Director of the U.S. Secret Service on January 22, 2025. Curran, who had previously led Trump's protective detail, was tasked with steering the agency through a period of reform and heightened vigilance.
Since the 2024 incident, the Secret Service has embarked on an ambitious modernization and expansion effort. The agency's FY 2026 budget request included $3.5 billion, a $192 million increase from FY 2025, with major investments aimed at enhancing its protective mission, including additional Special Agents and funding for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. A significant initiative launched in January 2026 aims to hire 4,000 new employees by 2028, increasing the agency's total workforce to over 10,000 for the first time, in an effort to combat agent burnout and address staffing shortfalls. Reports in June 2026, however, indicated that the agency was still understaffed by an average of 21.4 percent in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, relying heavily on overtime and external partners.
As of July 22, 2026, the Secret Service is operating in a "highly volatile" threat environment, according to Director Sean Curran. The agency has identified Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as a top-priority threat and is deploying advanced detection and mitigation assets, some for the first time on U.S. soil. Recent reports also highlighted serious gaps in the agency's mobile device management and security practices, with agents routinely using personal phones for official work due to limitations in government-issued devices, posing risks to protectees and employees. The agency continues to focus on its dual mission, with recent investigative successes in combating cryptocurrency money laundering and EBT fraud in early 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if United States Secret Service made different choices?