Introduction
The Secret Service is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Its main mandate involves handling issues of counterfeiting and other financial crimes that are committed in the USA. As Emmett reveals, following the killing of William McKinley, the agency’s mandate expanded to include protecting national leaders, dignitaries visiting the US, and the leaders’ families. Towards the end of the national battle in the US, about 33% and 50% of the money that was being exchanged was forged. This situation led to the establishment of the Secret Service agency in 1865 to deal with crime, which posed an enormous threat to the US economy. This paper discusses the history and development process of the United States Secret Service agency. It also discusses the mission, structure, funding, policies, success, and obstacles to the performance of the organization. The goal is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the organization’s extent of attaining its objectives that were defined during its creation. In the last section, an analytic conclusion of the United States Secret Service is offered.
History and Development of the United States Secret Service
The Secret Service (SS) was inaugurated on 5 July 1865. Instances of insecurity were very common because bandits had taken advantage of the situation where no proper safety mechanisms had been established to detect any evil plans before they could be executed. Hence, its main mandate was to curb the increasing cases of counterfeiting the US currency. The agency was commissioned as a division of the treasury section. It was established through Abraham Lincoln’s ruling, just during the time of his murder. Before its commissioning, the United States Park Police, United States Postal Service, the US Marshals Service, and the US Police Office Department served as the only bodies that were mandated with enforcing federal laws. Marshals’ Service lacked the capacity to investigate crimes that were committed within federal jurisdictions. Thus, in 1867, Secret Service started investigating all crimes ranging from murder and illegal gambling to different forms of theft such as personality robbery, information systems theft, or cyberspace theft. Although the agency was commissioned in Washington, DC, its main offices were moved to New York City in 1870. However, they were later returned to Washington, DC in 1874. In the mid-1870s, the agency gave out a fresh set of devotion manuscripts to the senior management. At the close of the 1870s, the US Upper House made it illegitimate to forge money or any other highly valued metals. The agency was tasked to enforce the law. According to Kessler, the agency was recognized as a separate entity within the banking section of the United States of America in 1883. The bureau first offered the head of states defense as a non-official duty requirement in the mid-1890s.To formalize the mandates of the agency; the US Upper House enacted and passed a law on forgery and/or purchasing of any fake stamp.
Following the murder of President McKinley, the Upper House unofficially demanded the SS to temporarily guard the leaders of the United States. However, this role was formalized a year later when the agency was required by law to offer full-time protection of the presidents. In 1902, SS lost its first serving agent, William Craig, in road carnage. SS became the foremost United States home insight and counter-insight bureau. In the same year, the bureau took a permanent duty of guarding the president. As The United States Secret Service confirms, extra guards were also given a permanent task in the White House Detail. In 1906, the Upper House enacted the 1907 Sundry Public Expenditure law, which set finance kitty for the SS to guard of the heads. The bureau also conducted thorough scrutiny of various property crimes. This process led to the returning of several millions of acres that had wrongly been misappropriated to the US government. In 1908, it started protecting presidents-elect. Moving the bureau to the integrity section by President Roosevelt ensured that it constituted the FBI nucleus. After the establishment of the FBI, the acumen gathering roles were removed and vested in the newly developed defense organs within the banking subdivision.
The extension of the SS mandates began in the almost mid-1910s following the introduction of the constitutional power for the bureau to offer lasting security of both president-elects and the sitting heads. In 1915, President Wilson issued orders for Treasury escritoire to consent to the bureau to conduct inquires on spying in America. This crime usually involves one of the methodologies that cyber attackers deploy to pose threats to national security systems. It entails the practice or the act of acquiring national secrets, especially on classified information and sensitive secrets from competitors, individuals, and even another government. The main motivation for engaging in this evil is to take economic, military, and political advantage via illegal computer exploitations through the internet, software, and networks. The SS was mandated to curb any espionage crime.
At the close of 1910s, the legislative body passed laws requiring the agency to provide full-time security to members who were close to the head of state. Any offense that was made to the head of state or his close relatives was also considered a breach of the US centralized regulations. In an effort to deal with such crimes, White House Police Force was established in 1922 through the president’s request. However, eight years later, the body started receiving orders from the agency. In 1951, through a legislative obligation, the agency started providing safety to the US heads who had not yet taken up office, current serving heads of states, and their close folks. It was also required to maintain defense of the deputies to the heads of states, if they so demanded, as The United States Secret Service confirms. However, 10 years later, the Upper House expanded the list of people under safety by the agency to include previous country heads, but for a practical duration. However, in 1962, as The United States Secret Service claims, the Upper House extended the number to involve “the vice president (or the next officer to succeed the president) and the vice president-elect”. From these observations, this move suggests a trend in the expansion of the role of SS in protecting key individuals in the US leadership and its development process.
In 1963, the Upper House enacted a ruling allowing the security of President John Kennedy’s wife and young kids. Upon the murder of Robert Kennedy as the then US head of state, this scope was adjusted to include all former state heads, their companions, and all their minors until they attained a mature age of close to 20 years. The Congress enacted legislation authorizing the Secret Service to protect key vice presidents and president nominees. It also mandated the agency to protect the widows of all presidents until such a time when they remarried or upon their death. The children of widows were to be protected until they were 16 years old.
In1970, the administrative dwelling and the key office of the American head of state was rebranded the administrative defensive overhaul. This move was accompanied by an addition of roles of offering defense services to the ambassadorial operations in Washington, DC. In 1971, the Upper House directed the agency to guard all executive visitors to the United States together administrative and/or country leaders. In the mid 1970s, the administrative defensive overhaul unit started to guard ambassadorial operations in other regions other than Washington. The unit was later to become the Underground Overhaul Uniformed Department. In 1984, the Congress outlawed the use of any fraudulent debit or credit card. Thus, it mandated the SS with implementing the law through its investigative arm. It was also charged with investigations involving computer fraud and falsified identity. In 1986, the Treasury Police Force merged with the SS Uniform Division. In the same year, the agency was charged with protecting spouses who accompanied any visiting heads of state. In 1990, the United States Secret Service informs that the USSS got a certified parallel authority with the section of integrity decree implementation workers to carry out all inquiries, national or against the law, in connection to federally indemnified monetary organizations. In 1994, crime bill number 103-322 mandated the SS to counter any act of manufacturing, processing, or even trafficking the US currency in the international arena. Such crimes are prosecuted as if they are executed within the US jurisdiction.
September 11 attacks depicted additional roles of the SS. After the assault, the SS distinguished staff members together with various recruits of the NYF bureau took action to offer relief. They also participated in the evacuation efforts where a Secret Service officer died in the process. Although it came with lots of criticism on privacy inversion, the US Patriot Act mandated the SS to develop nationwide capacities to curb electronic crimes. The law permitted the SS to investigate and prevent different attacks in the US financial and crucial infrastructures such as information systems. This plan prevented the deployment of new technologies in executing crimes.
The dawn of 2004 was historical for the agency. Its first woman deputy director was named. In 2006, the Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force increased its national task forces from 15 to 24. The forces were required to dedicate their efforts to fighting high technology and computer crimes by enhancing public-private sector partnerships. The safeguarding of various presidential contenders often started as elections neared. However, in 2007, the agency started providing defense to a self-ruled presidential aspirant, Barack Obama. In 2008, the agency had made more than 29, 000 arrests on accounts of crimes such as counterfeiting, financial crimes, and cyber attacks among others. About 98% o the arrests led to convictions with a seizure of about 298 million dollars in counterfeit. It investigated and successfully prevented a loss of USD3.7billion. It also prevented the potential loss of USD12billion in the form of financial crimes.
By 2010, the SS had 65000 employees. About 3200 of them served in the Special Agents while 1,300 served in the Uniformed Division. Technical and administrative staff members amounted to 2,000. Special Agents were tasked with offering protective details. In some situations, they were involved in investigating financial crimes and any other matters that had a link with Homeland Security. The dawn of 2014 saw the bureau encounter its most serious disparagement following the case of infringement in the president’s residence. While this occurrence was a major failure, today, the SS continues to execute its protective and investigative roles.
Mission
From mid 1860s, the organization has advanced to take the role of implementing centralized regulations, but with a constitutional mandate of accomplishing unlawful examinations and safeguarding certain centralized administrators, places, and various persons. The 2002 ruling led to the relocation of the organization to the section of motherland sanctuary from the finance subdivision. Reese asserts its mission as ensuring “the security of the President, the Vice President, their families, the White House, the Vice President’s Residence, national and visiting world leaders, former presidents, and events of national significance.” He also states that the agency has a role in investigating financial and cyberspace crimes. These revelations mean that the agency has two main missions, namely investigating and protecting.
Investigation
Investigation, especially on counterfeiting crimes, constitutes the agency’s original mission. However, through establishment of a series of organizational requirements, obligations, and parliamentary laws and regulations, the scope of the investigative undertaking has been enlarged. Although the main concern is to offer counterfeiting investigation, the agency investigates some issues that do not relate to financial matters. For instance, it examined Ku Klux Klan and actions of anti-surveillance during the first global uprising. Forensic overhaul section of the SS plays essential roles in the operation of the counterfeiting and monetary felony examination. Staff members in this section study credentials, fake naming, visa certificates, and fingerprints among other sources of forensic substantiation.
The investigative support for the SS facilitates the formulation followed by implementation of criminal intelligence programs. For example, the criminal specialist research program provides avenues of gathering intelligence and its subsequent analysis to help in pursuing forensic financial misconducts and/or putting in place infrastructure to facilitate the investigation of such crimes. The program also offers analytical aid and research support to the criminal investigation. In 1994, the US Congress expanded the investigation mission of the SS to include forensic evidence gathering and offering technical support in terms of investigating issues that dealt with child exploitation.
Protection
In 1894, the SS started protecting presidents of the United States such as President Grover Cleveland who got a part-time security. Today, the agency protects President Obama on a full-time basis. The Congress and unofficial decisions direct the SS’ protective mission. For instance, its role in protecting President Cleveland was unofficial while the US Congress directs its current roles of protecting key presidential candidates and any visiting dignitaries. The protective roles continue to evolve to include the removal of some names in the protective list. For example, in 2008, the agency protected a spouse to the former president of the United States who also happened to run as a presidential aspirant. It also protected a vice president who was not running for party nominations.
Section 3056(a) of 18 USC defines the key persons that USSS should protect. Reese identifies such persons as “presidents, vice president, and vice president-elect”. The agency should also protect immediate family members to these persons. It also has an added mandate to protect former presidents together with their spouses and children under 16 years old. It also protects former vice presidents of the US and their children who are below 16 years old.
The SS’ operations that are necessary for realizing the agency’s protective mission have undergone evolution over the years. At its inception, the agency used physical presence of bodyguards to achieve its protective mission. Today, this mission is attained by maintaining a close distance with persons who are under protection and conducting an advanced survey of security situations in all areas that are scheduled to be visited by those under its protection as Kessler confirms. It also coordinates the local or state enforcement agents whilst conducting intelligence analysis to mitigate the current and anticipated threats. To achieve its assignment, it deploys qualified staff people, corporeal blockades, and technical infrastructure to reduce any susceptibility that is associated with the evolving safety intimidation.
Structure
The SS’ structure shows the flow of command. It is hierarchical in nature. It depicts a unilateral information flow. The director, assisted by deputy director, holds the top-most position. The director facilitates policy development and implementation process with the agency. He or she provides oversight to the operations of the agency, including overseeing its about 7000 personnel employed. There is also the position of chief of staff. The holder of the position oversees all issues that relate to the agency’s staff members. There are eight positions below the deputy directors. They include administration, government and public affairs, human resources and training, investigations, professional responsibility, technical development and mission support, protective operations, and strategic intelligence and information.
The overall structure of the SS can reduce into Director, Deputy Director, Special Agents, Uniformed Division Officers, and Support Personnel. The uniformed body came into force early 1920s to offer defense in the president’s residence. It was later integrated into the SS in 1930. Currently, it has a population of beyond 1300 officers. It provides security to the White House, the residence of the US vice president, Treasury Department, and missions for foreign diplomacy at Washington, DC. It provides safety by conducting tours using cars, racing bikes, or by walking around. It also has fixed posts within its operational areas. The division also offers support protective services such as counter-sniper support, canine explosives detection, emergency response, and magnetometers to the SS.
Special Agents Unit is involved in the investigation of financial crimes such as fraud and counterfeiting. It also has the responsibility of investigating computer-related crimes, telecommunication fraud, identity thefts, commercial securities, and incidences of falsified identification. This element of the structure is termed as ‘special’ due to its technological shrewdness in dealing with technologically enhanced crimes such as cybercrimes and telecommunication crimes. The Special Agents and the Uniformed Division are law enforcement agents of the SS. The agency also relies on services offered by the best American professionals who are drawn from legal, psychology, computer, graphic design, forensic science, medical, budget analysis, and human resource among other professional backgrounds. These highly qualified American citizens provide the support services to the agency. They are collectively classified as support personnel.
Funding
In realizing its mission, the SS requires financial resources to support its mandates. In the past few years, the US Congress has appropriated about USD1.6billion for use in financing the USSS operations. It receives its funding from the national government through the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS). However, the budget for this year has experienced some challenges due to uncertainties over the budget for DHS as Chiacu and Cornwell confirm. This challenge has emerged due to security lapses such as the incident of White House intruder.
For 2015, the USSS requested USD1, 586million. In 2014, a budget of USD1, 533million was enacted. In 2014, the protection mission was allocated about 63 percent of the total budgetary allocation from the USSS agency. This figure was about USD920million while the investigative mission received USD368million. These differences are attributed to the fact that the protection mission requires the highest number of service agents. The SS congressional actions also relate to protection.
Policies
The SS collects information from people to achieve its protection mission. The policy seeks to prevent crimes before their occurrence, as opposed to acting reactively. The United States Secret Service confirms that its agenda involves discovering, evaluating, and directing individuals who show the concern and capacity to raise assaults in opposition to the agency’s objectives. The United States Secret Service informs that the USSS reserves the right to withhold information on all people who access its infrastructure, including its website to ensure that it can retrieve information on people who maliciously aim to destroy it. However, the agency’s policy has checks to ensure it does not breach the rights of people to privacy.
The USSS does not collect any private information. It does not collect any information on personal addresses or names from people who access its website. Any information provided to the agency only facilitates obtaining the required information. The agency reserves the right to collecting information on the internet domain such as IP addresses, the type of the browser that is utilized, operating system, time and the date of access, and the accessed pages. This information facilitates the agency in analyzing the type of technology that is deployed to access its infrastructure and the traffic that flows into them. This information is critical in ensuring that the agency remains well ahead technologically than any potential threat. Therefore, the agency does not object to interfere or impede the flow of information between persons across the US and internationally in its effort to executive its protective and investigative missions.
Success and/or Obstacles
Just like any other organization, the SS agency experiences obstacles such as technological challenges in executing its mandates. Due to the continuously changing technology, Khan and Ryan reported in 2010 in an ABC NEWS that the agency was in dire need of modernizing its IT infrastructures and recruiting additional staff members to develop a higher capability to execute its duo missions. Sullivan was before the house of committee on appropriations. Sullivan requested USD1.57billion to fund the SS budget in 2011. This figure was 6% more than the amount that was appropriated in 2010. However, this increase was not surprising, as it direly needed to upgrade its IT systems. While the entire federal government had already successfully upgraded its computer systems, the SS remained behind.
In 2014, the SS expressed its intention to hire additional staff members. However, as Chiacu and Cornwell reveal, uncertainties over the DHS budget derailed the implementation of major initiatives to boost the agency’s capacity to respond to security threats. In response to the obstacles that the agency was facing, a review panel made recommendations in December 2014 on how to improve its infrastructure. The recommendations were made following security lapses in the US. They (recommendations) targeted the mandates of the SS such as the access to the White House by an intruder and the landing of a drone on the mansion’s lawn. In December 2014, Jeh Johnson, the DHS secretary, stated that the department would not hire additional staff members to secure the next presidential candidate elections until the funding dispute was resolved. This situation suggested that the need for budgetary approval and limitation of spending authority for a specific period constituted a major obstacle to the agency’s exercising of its capacity.
Political issues presented a major challenge to the operation of the SS. They delayed the issuance of specific guidelines to the agency. The current DHS spending authority will expire on 27 February 2015. However, as Chiacu and Cornwell assert, “Republicans in the House of Representatives have taken measures on a DHS spending bill to block Democratic President Barack Obama’s executive orders that provide legal protection for about 5million undocumented immigrants”. This case constitutes a major obstacle to the implementation of the review panel for the SS. White House stated its decision to veto a funding bill that was taking away financial resources from the president’s immigration initiatives. The senate delayed in adopting the bill that allowed the release of USD39.7billion to the DHS. John Cornyn stated his anticipation for a procedural vote that was meant to determine whether the house would adopt the bill. Indeed, the bill required at least half of the democrats to vote for it if it needed to advance. The situation suggested that politics played a significant role in terms of the manner in which the SS matter was handled.
Amid the challenges, the SS has been effective in dealing with security threats. The agency successfully reduced cases of note counterfeiting after its formation. Although President Kennedy was assassinated in the 1960s while under the protection of the SS, the agency successfully responded to the assassination attempts of President Reagan and Ford, thanks to the role that William Geer, Rovber DeProspero, Roy Kellerman, and others played in protecting the presidents. During President Kennedy’s murder, the SS special security agents played brave roles. Clit Hill portrayed an impeccable capacity to execute his mandates by even isolating his protectee from danger while in different moving vehicle. Rufus Youngblood, who was protecting President Kennedy’s vice president, Lyndon Johnson, jumped onto the front seat to protect Johnson with his body. Jerry Parr decided not to seek instructions from his seniors by making a brave choice to divert the entire presidents’ motorcade towards George Washington hospital, rather than heading back to the White House. These scenarios depict the success of SS in achieving its protective roles.
The SS has recorded success in its investigative roles. It succeeded in indicting Max Butler; the co-founder of Carders Market website. He was indicted for identity and wire theft. He had hacked the internet to access financial institutions’ information and a center for processing credit cards. He obtained several card numbers, which he later sold. In 2004, through operation farewell, the agency succeeded in locating 28 crime suspects who were charged with credit-card fraud, information system fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy. The criminals were selling unlawful payment documents. In 2008, the agency investigations led to the arrest of 11 people from the US, Ukraine, China, and Belarus. They were involved in stealing and selling of 40million debit and credit card numbers. They were charged with wire fraud, computer fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy.
Conclusion
Since its creation, the Secret Service (SS) has engaged in the investigation of financial crimes together with protecting senior US political class leaders and all visiting heads of state or governments. While its original mandate was to deal with problems of counterfeiting of the US currency, currently, the agency has played incredible roles in mitigating cyber security threats and credit and debit cards theft. The agency has also been evolving by seeking new ways of realizing its dual mission of protecting and investigating crimes that are committed with the aid of the evolved technology. This technology advancement has called for an increment in its budgetary allocations. Indeed, as this increase has occurred, the number of people who require protection has also been rising, especially during the presidential elections. Amid the few challenges, the agency has managed to balance its dual missions as evidenced by several cases that have successfully been prosecuted. Overall, the SS has secured 98% success rates in terms of crime detection and control.
Bibliography
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