The Secret Service is grappling with a significant staffing shortage as the 2024 election approaches. Over the past two years, 1,400 employees have left the agency, with punishing hours and inadequate working conditions fueling the exodus. Agents cite crushing overtime, dilapidated facilities, and ineffective rehiring policies as key reasons for the decline.
Despite Congress providing additional funds, including $231 million for equipment and overtime, the agency remains unprepared. Recent security failures, such as two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, underscore the impact of this staffing crisis.
While efforts to rebuild the workforce are underway, current and former agents say the underlying issues — overwork, outdated technology, and perceptions of favoritism in promotions — persist, leaving the agency ill-equipped to meet rising threats in 2024.
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