What is the Secret Service?

The Secret Service is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the President, Vice President, their immediate families, former Presidents, presidential candidates during elections, foreign heads of state visiting the United States, and other designated individuals. The Secret Service also has criminal investigation responsibilities, particularly related to financial crimes such as counterfeiting and credit card fraud.

The Secret Service was originally created in 1865 as a bureau of the Department of the Treasury to combat the widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency that had emerged during the Civil War. Counterfeiting was so common at that time that an estimated one-third of all paper money in circulation was fake. The agency's protective mission was added much later. After President James A. Garfield was assassinated in 1881 and President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to begin protecting the President.

Today the protection of senior officials is the agency's most visible role. The Secret Service was transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 as part of the post-September 11 reorganization of the federal government. The agency is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and operates field offices across the United States and at U.S. embassies abroad. It employs roughly 7,000 people, including special agents, uniformed officers, technical experts, and support staff.

The Secret Service's protective duties are extensive. The Presidential Protective Division provides round-the-clock protection for the President and First Family. Similar divisions protect the Vice President, former Presidents, and presidential candidates within 120 days of a general election. The Uniformed Division of the Secret Service patrols the White House grounds, the Naval Observatory (the official Vice President's residence), and foreign diplomatic missions in the Washington area. The agency also coordinates security for designated National Special Security Events such as inaugurations, presidential funerals, and major political conventions.

Investigatively, the Secret Service handles cases involving counterfeiting of U.S. currency, financial fraud, identity theft, computer crimes, and threats against protectees. The agency operates the Electronic Crimes Task Force network and works closely with the FBI and other law enforcement on financial and cyber investigations.

The Secret Service is led by a Director appointed by the President. Recent Directors include Joseph Clancy, Randolph Alles, James Murray, Kimberly Cheatle, Ronald Rowe (acting), and Sean Curran.