United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security with the purpose of conducting criminal investigations and protecting U.S. political leaders, their families, and visiting heads of state or government. The Secret Service was, until 2003, part of the Department of the Treasury, due to their initial mandate of combatting counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The agency has protected U.S. presidents and presidential candidates since 1901.

Some of the key events about United States Secret Service

1865
Established to combat widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency
1865
Failed to prevent the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
1901
Assumed full-time responsibility for protection of the President
1901
Failed to prevent the assassination of President William McKinley
1917
Expanded duties to include investigations of espionage during World War I
1950
Permanently authorized to protect the President, their family, and other high-ranking officials
1963
Failed to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
1968
Began protecting major presidential and vice presidential candidates
1970
Expanded protective duties to include foreign diplomatic missions in the U.S.
1975
Faced criticism for inadequate protection during two assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford
1981
Failed to prevent the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan
1984
Implemented the "Magaw Plan" to improve presidential security after a breach
1994
Successfully thwarted an attempt to crash a plane into the White House
1995
Criticized for security lapses that allowed a shooter to fire multiple shots at the White House
2000
Established the National Threat Assessment Center to study targeted violence
2001
Led evacuation efforts at the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks
2009
Faced scrutiny after a couple crashed a White House state dinner, breaching security protocols
2012
Embroiled in a prostitution scandal involving agents in Cartagena, Colombia
2014
Criticized for multiple security breaches at the White House, including an intruder entering the building
2015
Faced allegations of misconduct and mismanagement, leading to the resignation of the agency's director

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