Lawfare Archive: Carol Leonnig on the United States Secret Service and What to Do About It
Oct 20, 2024
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Carol Leonnig, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at the Washington Post, dives deep into the challenges faced by the United States Secret Service. She reflects on its 'Zero Fail' motto while revealing significant operational gaps and past failures, including scandals and security breaches. Leonnig discusses potential reforms aimed at cultural transformation rather than mere financial fixes. Her insights illuminate the complex relationship between the Secret Service, the presidency, and the ethical dilemmas agents encounter in their protective roles.
The United States Secret Service faces significant challenges in fulfilling its 'Zero Fail' mission due to historical gaps and insufficient resources.
High-profile incidents, including the Reagan assassination attempt, have prompted crucial changes in security protocols, yet outdated methods still persist.
Cultural resistance within the Secret Service complicates addressing systemic flaws, as agents often prioritize public relations over stringent security practices.
Deep dives
The Role and Challenges of the Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is primarily tasked with the protection of the President, which is encapsulated in its motto of 'Zero Fail'. However, historical incidents reveal glaring issues within the agency, including organizational gaps and lapses in security due to inadequate personnel. For instance, during the Kennedy era, the service struggled with a lack of agents and resources, making effective protection difficult when the president traveled frequently. This situation highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing the Secret Service's extensive responsibilities against its limited resources and the critical need for reform.
Impact of Historical Assassination Attempts
High-profile assassinations, like those of President Kennedy and attempted assassinations such as that of Ronald Reagan, have shaped the Secret Service's evolving policies significantly. Following the Reagan assassination attempt, substantial changes were introduced, including rigorous screening protocols like magnetometers at events to prevent unauthorized access to the president. This incident underscored how lapses in security can lead to critical vulnerabilities, prompting the Secret Service to adopt new measures aimed at preventing similar breaches in the future. Yet, despite these reforms, the continued reliance on outdated methods and cultural resistance poses ongoing challenges.
Cultural Challenges Within the Agency
The Secret Service has been noted for a culture that prioritizes operational success at the expense of addressing systemic flaws within its ranks. The tendency of agents to ignore warning signs and adapt informally has led to repeated security failures, indicating a resistance to change. Reports of incidents where agents focused more on maintaining positive public relations and political image rather than strict adherence to security protocols further illustrate this issue. Such a culture fosters an environment where inadequate practices may persist, putting agency operatives and the public at risk.
Consequences of Leadership Decisions
Leadership within the Secret Service has often been challenged by conflicting priorities, notably between budgetary constraints and the need for enhanced security measures. Directors have historically struggled to gain support for increased funding while fighting against a perception of wastefulness among congressional stakeholders. For example, despite clear evidence of operational inefficiencies, requests for additional personnel and resources have frequently been met with skepticism. The struggle to maintain effective leadership and influence policy in a bureaucratic environment has led to a sense of stagnation regarding necessary reform and improvement.
Reforms for the Future
To enhance its operational effectiveness, the Secret Service must evaluate its mission priorities and consider possible reforms aimed at streamlining its focus on core protective duties. This involves rethinking the multi-faceted role of the agency, potentially reducing its scope to align more closely with its essential protective responsibilities. Additionally, integrating external expertise in technology, human resources, and strategic management could bring necessary innovations and adaptations to the agency's operations. Overall, a commitment to cultural change and strategic leadership is vital for the Secret Service to meet contemporary challenges successfully.
From July 7, 2022: The United States Secret Service has many important missions, the most public of which is protecting the president of the United States. And in this mission, its motto is "Zero Fail." There is no window for them to let their guard down when it comes to protecting the commander-in-chief.
And yet, the past several decades of the Secret Service's protection have seen gaps, mistakes and exposures of some fundamental problems within the Secret Service itself. Carol Leonnig is a Pulitzer Prize-winning national investigative reporter at the Washington Post known for her reporting on the Secret Service, as well as the Trump presidency and many other topics. She is also the author of the new book, "Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service." She sat down with David Priess to talk about the United States Secret Service, its mission, its challenges and potential reforms to get over some of its most fundamental flaws.
