The U.S. Secret Service is facing unprecedented strain as the 2024 presidential election enters its final stretch. With approximately 400 fewer employees than Congress has authorized, the agency is struggling to keep up with the demands of protecting an expanded list of officials, including former President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris ¹. This shortage is particularly concerning in light of the recent assassination attempts on Trump’s life, including a gunman who hid undetected for nearly 12 hours on the edge of a golf course where Trump was playing.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged that his agents are working at extremely high levels of stress, stating, “We are redlining them” ¹. The agency’s staffing shortage is exacerbated by the challenging nature of the job, which sees only 2% of applicants hired, and the lure of more lucrative private-sector work ¹. As a result, agents are often forced to work long hours in high-pressure situations, increasing the risk of failure.
The Secret Service’s difficulties are not new. A 2015 bipartisan report revealed systemic mismanagement, leadership concerns, and security breaches within the agency ². Despite congressional efforts to address these issues, the agency continues to face significant challenges. With the election just weeks away, concerns about the Secret Service’s ability to protect its protectees are mounting.
Experts question why the agency did not detect the gunman sooner, particularly given Trump’s penchant for playing golf on public courses. “How was Routh not spotted by an advance team? Did the Secret Service use a drone over the golf course? Dogs? If not, why not?” asked Lora Ries, a former top official at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ¹. The agency’s failure to conduct routine site surveys and utilize available resources has raised eyebrows.
In response to the growing concerns, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have pledged to provide additional funding to the Secret Service. However, this may come too late to address the agency’s staffing shortage before the November 5 election ¹. As the nation prepares to head to the polls, the Secret Service’s ability to protect its protectees remains a pressing concern.
