The Biden administration has requested Congress for special approval to boost funding for the Secret Service, citing concerns that current resources are inadequate to strengthen protective measures. This request comes in response to what officials describe as a second apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, raising additional scrutiny about the extent of Secret Service protection for the former president and Republican presidential candidate.
Donald Trump’s security arrangements include a significant number of agents and resources, though less than the protection provided to a sitting president. According to Ronald Kessler, an expert on the Secret Service, approximately 80 agents are assigned to Trump at any given time. This is compared to the around 300 agents who protect the sitting president and vice president, and the 90 to 100 agents typically assigned to former presidents.
Michael Matranga, a former Secret Service agent, notes that while former presidents usually have close protection officers, additional teams like counter-sniper, counter-assault, and counter-surveillance teams are not always present daily. However, Trump has had these additional resources, especially after heightened threats. Despite this, there’s an emphasis on balancing security with allowing Trump to engage with the public and enjoy personal activities.
Jason Russell, another former Secret Service agent, explains that the Secret Service controls the immediate security around Trump, while local law enforcement manages the broader perimeter, such as around public spaces like golf courses.
Following the first assassination attempt and intelligence of an Iranian plot against Trump, security was increased. This included expanding the use of drones and improving communication and staffing levels. Despite requests for more protection, some were reportedly denied by the Secret Service before the July attempt on Trump’s life.
Currently, the acting head of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, has stated that security around Trump’s residence is as intense as when he was president, with the highest level of protection in place.
The Secret Service employs around 8,000 staff members, which includes special agents, administrative, and technical personnel. Nearly half of these employees, specifically 3,671, are dedicated full-time to Protective Operations. This represents a decrease from a decade ago when approximately 4,027 personnel were assigned to protect the president and other senior officials.
Ronald Kessler notes that the entire budget of the Secret Service is comparable to the cost of a single stealth bomber, emphasizing that the agency is experiencing significant financial and staffing challenges. In addition to the Biden administration’s request for increased spending, the Secret Service has separately requested additional resources from Congress to adequately fulfill its responsibilities.
One of the key questions arising from the recent incident is how the suspect was aware of Donald Trump’s presence at the golf course at that specific time. Michael Matranga pointed out that it’s crucial to understand this aspect rather than just focusing on the Secret Service’s response.
As of now, it’s unclear how the suspect knew about Trump’s whereabouts on that Sunday. A review of Trump’s recent social media activity shows that he did not publicly announce his plans to play golf at his West Palm Beach course on that particular day. His campaign schedule, following a rally in Las Vegas, listed no events between that appearance and a town hall speech in Michigan on September 17.
Dailyon has reported that Trump’s visit to the golf course might have been a last-minute addition to his schedule. However, given Trump’s frequent trips to Mar-a-Lago on weekends, it could have been anticipated that he might be there. Additionally, Trump posted on X on September 12 about hosting a “State of Crypto Address” on the evening of September 16 from Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has frequently been seen interacting with the public at his golf course, which is evident from posts such as an Instagram photo from July 2024.
