Low morale, inappropriate conduct and security lapses are all present day US Secret Service themes, says a new report which urges for the "mismanaged" agency to be fixed
A landmark new US Secret Service report refers to the agency as one “in crisis”, highlighting some 140 breaches of (or attempts to penetrate) its security framework carried out over the past decade.
Included in these are half-a-dozen or more incidents not previously released into the public domain. One occurred just last year, when a man approached and directly spoke to Barack Obama, the US President. This and the other 142 episodes are covered in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report, issued on 3 December.
In general terms, the Secret Service is accused of over-focusing on credit card fraud and suchlike, and not investing enough into its protective duties role. Committee chairman, Jason Chaffetz, now hopes the US Government might take in the report’s contents and act accordingly.
Secret Service: Roles
Established in 1865, the US Secret Service was first tasked with counterfeit money investigations. Thereafter, its role was much expanded as it became a pioneering intelligence/counter-intelligence organisation.
In September last year, there were 6,367 people working for it on a full-time basis. 12 months on, that figure had declined to 6,315 – a ten-year low. The committee puts forward several reasons for this drop. Low morale is one such, alongside “systematic mismanagement” and less-than-successful hiring tactics.
Security Lapses: Agency “In Crisis”
Other US Secret Service security lapses featured include one where a group of adults was able to get onto Vice President Joe Biden’s land. Not until authorities were informed by other residents did the Secret Service have any knowledge of this.
On another occasion, an individual from Czechoslovakia accessed an unnamed ex-US President’s home. He remained there for approximately 60 minutes before any action was taken. Then, there was the Secret Service agent who obtained personal data without consent, thereafter crossing the US to approach the woman concerned, with romantic thoughts in mind.
“This report reveals that the Secret Service is in crisis”, the Associated Press quotes Chaffetz as having said. "Morale is down, attrition is up, misconduct continues and security breaches persist. Strong leadership from the top is required to fix the systemic mismanagement within the agency and to restore it to its former prestige.”
US Secret Service image copyright The White House – courtesy Wikimedia Commons
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