The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) is under increased scrutiny following the assassination attempt on former President Trump on July 13, sparking concerns about the agency’s culture and staffing levels.
Current and former USSS personnel have expressed worries about chronic understaffing despite the agency’s budget rising to $3 billion. Agency leaders are being questioned not just about the failures on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, but also regarding their management of team morale and their effectiveness in recruiting and retaining talent.
“The team I once took pride in is now something I feel I must conceal as I transition into my next career,” a USSS counter sniper reportedly wrote in an internal email last week, excerpts of which were shared by Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., during a congressional hearing about the assassination attempt. “Who would want to employ a USSS [counter sniper] who failed? That’s the public perception I now confront.”
The counter sniper described the agency’s ethos as “CYA,” or “cover your a–,” alleging that “every supervisor is engaging in it right now.”
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Former President Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents after shots were fired at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“The USSS CS team is now a blot that I can never erase,” the counter sniper further stated in the email, which was obtained by Real Clear Politics reporter Susan Crabtree. “Our failure was not due to lack of commitment or dedication but rather because our supervisors disregarded our concerns.”
“The public has lost faith in the mission to protect, and I want to know how you feel about the fact that employees in your agency are more concerned with covering their backs than ensuring the safety of a former president,” Blackburn told acting USSS Director Ronald Rowe Jr. during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last Tuesday.
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Rowe Jr. expressed that he was “hurt” by the remarks of his employee.
“It pains me to see my personnel in distress right now,” he stated. “We need them.”
Rowe, whose agency recently faced accusations of retaliation, remarked that “emotions are high” within the USSS and that he wishes to “hear more” from the counter sniper who wrote the email, mentioning he is a Marine and a 20-year veteran with the USSS. Rowe affirmed his commitment to a review process and to being a “change agent.”
Secret Service by the numbers
The total staffing level at USSS rose to 7,811 in 2021 but fell in the subsequent two years, operating with 7,689 employees in 2023, based on data from the Congressional Research Service.
This figure includes about 3,200 agents, 1,300 uniformed division officers, and over 2,000 support staff, as indicated on the agency’s official site.
“Quality of life,” explained Charles Marino, who spent 18 years as a Secret Service agent, regarding why agents are leaving the USSS.
Rowe alluded last week to the tough lifestyle agents endure.
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Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the security failures leading to the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Trump, on July 30, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“One of the most challenging aspects of the mission is the extensive travel our personnel undertake throughout the year,” he stated. “This is particularly evident in presidential campaign years when protectees travel across the country, often with multiple protective engagements in a single day.”
New recruits joining the USSS must agree to a mobility clause, indicating their readiness to take on assignments anywhere across the U.S. and overseas, according to the agency’s website – however, Marino noted that “naturally, your family moves alongside you.”
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What does it mean to be a Secret Service agent?
While veterans are often preferred, potential USSS agents do not require prior law enforcement experience. Marino shared that during his 18 years at the agency, candidates needed a college degree and five years of experience in any field.
However, per the agency’s website, it is now feasible to start training for the USSS straight from college.
Candidates must be at least 21 when applying and no older than 37 upon receiving their employment offer, while those with military backgrounds can apply until they reach 40 years old.
“We seek individuals with a clean background who can pass a polygraph,” Marino, who has protected Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, specified about the agency’s desired candidate profile. “We look for athletic individuals, those who have played college sports, and engage with adaptable, quick-witted candidates – essentially, we want the complete package.”
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Former President Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Potential recruits must complete a visual and hearing assessment – their uncorrected vision should not exceed 20/100 and must achieve 20/20 when corrected, while hearing impairment should not surpass 25 decibels.
Visible tattoos are prohibited, except for a minimally noticeable tattooed wedding band on one finger – accepted candidates must have any tattoos removed medically before starting their duty, as per agency guidelines.
Besides a background check, driving records verification, and drug screenings, prospective agents must also pass medical and polygraph exams.
Background checks are thorough and can take between six to nine months, involving interviews with friends, family, and neighbors.
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Former President Trump secured inside a vehicle after shots were fired, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Agents’ annual starting salaries are pegged at $49,508, based on the agency’s website. Candidates with relevant master’s degrees, Ph.D.s, or pertinent experience may be classified at higher levels and pay rates.
Before commencing training, candidates must clear the Special Agent Entrance Exam, featuring sections for logical reasoning, grammar, and detail observation through images. Additionally, they must participate in interviews with the agency’s hiring committee.
Newly selected USSS agents undergo approximately eight months of training before their initial assignment.
Initially, they complete a Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Flynco, Georgia, followed by roughly 18 weeks at the U.S. Secret Service James J. Rowley Training Center located in Laurel, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
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Secret Service agents stand by as President Biden disembarks from Air Force One at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, North Carolina, on Jan. 18, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
Upon completing extensive training, Marino noted that agents are initially assigned to a field office.
“You are allocated to a field office, going through a period of field training, actively working for lower-level dignitaries and in financial crimes,” he explained. “During my time, you typically spent five to six years in your first field office before being considered for protection duty or a former protection detail – I believe that tenure has significantly decreased as of late.”
Secret Service uniformed division officers helping a child who breached the White House fence on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Nancy Benac)
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Agents assigned to protection details for high-profile individuals, such as a former president, should participate in bi-weekly refresher training sessions every six weeks, according to Marino.
“This is where resources become critical,” Marino stated. “These new recruits are not getting adequate training opportunities – considering the resource scarcity, particularly during campaigns, I’m doubtful that is occurring.”
