"Additional Agents Joining Ranks": US Secret Service boosts its workforce against federal workforce downsizing

U.S. Secret Service Launches Recruitment Drive Amidst Challenges

The U.S. Secret Service has launched a recruitment campaign, aiming to hire more employees following a thwarted assassination attempt on a former president. The drive comes after a decade of spending caps that have limited hiring, as stated by senior USSS official, Matthew Noyes, just days after the attempted assassination of a current president.

However, an independent panel established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not identify staffing as a primary issue in the USSS' handling of the incident. Instead, the panel focused on operational decision-making, leadership failures, and longstanding structural issues at the agency.

The recruitment ad, which was shown on Monday, follows one from the Super Bowl. It features D.J. Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor who dreams of becoming a police officer. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears in the ad and says, "Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear a shield." The ad shows U.S. Secret Service agents wearing their classic suits and sunglasses.

In a bid to attract potential candidates, recruiting bonuses are listed on the website for certain positions at the U.S. Secret Service. The ad directs interested individuals to a specific website for more information.

Kristi Noem, who has been noticeably public-facing in her role as DHS chief, has also been active in promoting the recruitment drive. She publicized her presence during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in New York City and filmed a video to deter migrants in an El Salvador prison.

Despite the ongoing recruitment drive, the U.S. Secret Service's employee engagement and satisfaction score, as measured by The Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, has been in the bottom quartile since 2013. However, the agency received a 66.2 score in 2024, which is its highest score in 11 years.

It is worth noting that D.J. Daniel was surprised with a USSS badge and credentials during Trump's March address to Congress. The video of the event was filmed with dozens of inmates in a cell behind Kristi Noem.

The U.S. Secret Service's current recruitment drive is part of a larger campaign called "calling for a few more heroes...to step forward." The agency emphasizes the need for more personnel to maintain its mission of protecting national leaders and high-profile events. However, they also acknowledge that a hiring surge would not directly mitigate the security failures that let a gunman nearly kill Trump.

"Additional Agents Joining Ranks": US Secret Service boosts its workforce against federal workforce downsizing