Understaffing of Secret Service Snipers Revealed by DHS Monitor
The Secret Service, a critical agency responsible for protecting the President of the United States, has come under scrutiny in recent years. One of the key issues at hand is the age requirements that phase out agents around age 55.
Former FBI agent and Navy Seal Jonathan Gilliam has expressed concerns about this practice, suggesting that it may be hindering the recruitment of the best personnel. He points out that other agencies do not focus on age requirements for specialists in their field.
Gilliam's concerns are not unfounded. Two rogue shooters have come within inches of killing President Trump, indicating a need for agency overhaul. In the Butler rally incident, a radical leftist took a shot at President Trump that grazed his ear and tragically killed a firefighter. The Secret Service's response to this attempt on the President's life during his campaign has also faced criticism.
The Secret Service counter sniper team is chronically understaffed, with counter snipers working nearly 60,000 hours of overtime in 2024 alone. This overworked state of affairs could potentially compromise the safety of political dignitaries.
DEI hires in the Secret Service have been found to often end up on protection details, potentially compromising safety due to lack of qualifications. Gilliam, who has raised these concerns, states that this practice could be hindering the recruitment of the best personnel.
In addition to these concerns, Gilliam has raised the possibility that there may have been instances where potential assassins could not get a good shot due to insufficient staffing or preparation. He also expresses concern about unknown instances of assassins scoping out locations to potentially harm political dignitaries.
Gilliam suggests that the Secret Service could recruit more people from all aspects of the military, given the abundance of snipers that come out of the military. However, Homeland Security watchdog reports detail that the agency routinely lies on overtime and personnel to keep sufficient staffing.
Despite ongoing reform efforts, new problems are emerging. Donald Trump, during his second presidency starting in 2025, attempted to lead reform efforts of U.S. agencies, but there is no specific information in the available data detailing him trying to lead reform for the Secret Service or proposing particular measures for it.
As the Secret Service continues its reform, it is crucial that these concerns are addressed to ensure the safety of political dignitaries and the American people.
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