Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduce legislation designed to improve accountability and bolster investigative priorities of the U.S. Secret Service.
The U.S. Secret Service Mission Improvement and Realignment Act of 2020 would move the Secret Service to its original location under the Department of the Treasury. Currently, it is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While known primarily for protection, the Secret Service also performs financial, counterfeit currency, and cybercrime investigations. The realignment allows the Secret Service to reprioritize its investigative mission.
“Secret Service and Treasury Department leaders agree that returning Secret Service control to Treasury from its current home at Homeland Security will be mutually beneficial,” Feinstein said. “I was happy to work with Chairman Graham to draft a bill to make this happen. I’m pleased the bill includes a requirement that the Secret Service report its expenditures, including payments to private entities. Ensuring the Secret Service functions effectively and transparently is a worthwhile goal.”
The U.S. Secret Service was founded in 1865 under the Department of the Treasury to combat counterfeit currency in the wake of the Civil War. The agency was asked to begin its protective mission in 1901 after the assassination of President William McKinley. The Secret Service remained under Treasury for nearly 140 years until the creation of DHS in 2003. The Trump administration supports the move.
“I look forward to working with Senator Feinstein to get the Secret Service back to its original home at the Department of Treasury,” Graham said. “In my opinion, the Treasury is a better fit for the Secret Service as the Secret Service has primary responsibility dealing with currency forgery. In addition, they will receive renewed support from Treasury to combat financial cybercrimes. Both are essential to maintaining the financial integrity of the United States.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, is opposed to the move.
“As I have said ever since the Trump administration first floated the idea of ripping the Secret Service out of DHS, it is a bad idea that will not make us any safer. Further, it could hurt DHS operations,” Thompson said. “With all due respect to my Senate colleagues, I just don’t see the point of going down this road and introducing upheaval at a time when the Executive Branch is already struggling to respond to the unprecedented and deadly coronavirus pandemic.”