Multiple members of Congress have called for investigations into the Secret Service following an incident in which a Pennsylvania man allegedly fired shots at former President Donald Trump before being killed by the agency. Lawmakers are demanding answers regarding how such a close call was allowed to happen and are focusing on the agency’s budget, which reached over $3 billion in 2024, the highest it has ever been. The Secret Service has already spent about $1.8 billion this fiscal year, with a significant portion going towards protective operations and field operations.
In addition to questioning the agency’s budget, lawmakers are also looking into the Secret Service’s history of scandals. This includes incidents such as agents being fooled by individuals posing as federal agents, a prostitution scandal in Colombia, a breach of the White House’s fence, and an agent publicly accusing Biden supporters of treason. These incidents may be addressed by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle during a planned hearing on July 22.
The Secret Service, responsible for protecting the president since 1901, has expanded its role over the years to include former presidents, major candidates, and their spouses. Despite requests from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running for president as an independent, the Department of Homeland Security has refused to provide him with protection, citing that he does not meet the definition of a major candidate. The agency currently has over 3,000 agents, 1,300 uniformed officers, and over 2,000 additional support staff.
Members of Congress have announced plans for a bipartisan bill to provide additional security for former Presidents Trump and Biden, as well as RFK Jr. The bill aims to address concerns raised by the recent incident involving shots being fired at Trump and to ensure the safety of current and former political leaders. Cheatle may face tough questioning during the upcoming hearing regarding the agency’s budget, past scandals, and future security measures. The Secret Service has yet to respond to the demands for increased transparency and accountability from lawmakers following the incident.
