Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, a member of the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, has outlined key reforms for the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) to allocate resources better and enhance protection for high-risk individuals, such as former President Donald Trump.
Waltz’s top priority is reducing the protective detail for 99-year-old former President Jimmy Carter, who is currently receiving end-of-life hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia.
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Waltz argues that resources should be redirected to those facing active threats, like Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, and frequently on the campaign trail.
These recommendations come as Congress considers increasing funding for the USSS following two assassination attempts on Trump. The first occurred during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, and the second in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15.
The scrutiny of the agency has grown, leading to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after the Pennsylvania incident. Acting Director Ronald Rowe has since taken charge and oversaw the prevention of the second attempt.
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Rep. Waltz has proposed three key actions to improve the agency’s efficiency without solely relying on additional funding. In a post on X, Waltz called for fixing “broken protocols” within the agency and holding leadership accountable for past failures. “I’m open to more resources for the Secret Service, but let’s see some REAL changes FIRST,” Waltz wrote.
Waltz emphasized the need to shift to a “threat-based security model,” arguing that Trump’s security needs should be significantly higher than that of former President Carter. He added that the USSS cannot simply ask for more money following what he described as “once in a generation failures” without making substantial reforms.
The bipartisan House task force, which initially focused on investigating the assassination attempt in Butler, has now expanded its scope to include the West Palm Beach incident as well.
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Waltz’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring the USSS is better prepared to handle the growing security threats against prominent political figures.
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