U.S. Reps. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Denny Heck (D-WA) introduced a bill that would move the Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Department of the Treasury, where it originally started.
The U.S. Secret Service Mission Improvement and Realignment Act of 2020 (H.R. 7145) is companion legislation to a similar bill introduced in the Senate by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
“Moving the Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security back to the Treasury will greatly aid in combating cybercrime and counterfeit currency to protect our nation. Not only has the move received bipartisan support in Congress, it has received full support from the Administration as it will allow our agencies to partner more seamlessly,” Williams said. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Heck so we can continue safeguarding the integrity of our financial system.”
The Secret Service was created in 1865 to investigate counterfeit currency and financial crimes in the United States. After the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, the agency gained the more publicly recognized mission of protecting the president. It remained housed in Treasury for 138 years until it was moved to the Department of Homeland Security following the September 11th terrorist attacks.
“Scammers and cybercriminals prey on uncertainty,” Heck said. “During the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen brazen attempts to defraud Americans — Washingtonians in particular — out of their hard-earned money and assistance checks. This common-sense, bipartisan change to return the Secret Service back to the Treasury Department will better equip the agency to stop these financial crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice. I thank Congressman Williams for his partnership in leading this important effort.”