What’s next for the Secret Service after Director Cheatle's resignation?
The House of Representatives held a hearing on Monday marking a significant moment in the oversight of the Secret Service, compelling Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify under subpoena after the attempted assassination of former President Trump less than two weeks ago at a Pennsylvania campaign stop.
Cheatle's subpoena to testify was rooted in a series of allegations that include lapses in security protocols, questionable conduct by agents and potential politicization of the agency's actions. The hearing aimed to address these concerns, scrutinize the agency's leadership and evaluate measures taken to rectify identified issues.
But the hearing, billed at the beginning of Monday in the House as a bipartisan effort, wasn’t bipartisan at all. Rather, it was a micro-view into American politics today: a partisan, disrespectful and downright offensive mess of a day. The end result was the announcement on Tuesday of an actual bipartisan task force to investigate the Secret Service, followed a couple of hours later by Cheatle’s resignation.
Let’s take a look at some previous instances where Secret Service directors faced similar circumstances — you might be surprised at some of the parallels.
Joseph Clancy, appointed by former President Obama, faced intense scrutiny during his tenure. He was called to testify before the House Oversight Committee following a series of security breaches, including an incident where a knife-wielding intruder scaled the White House fence and entered the executive mansion.
His hearing focused on systemic failures within the agency and Clancy's role in addressing these issues. Clancy acknowledged the need for comprehensive reforms and pledged to improve training and protocols. Clancy, however, was not forced to resign. He served until his retirement in 2017, leaving behind a mixed legacy of efforts to modernize the agency while grappling with ongoing challenges.
Julia Pierson, the first female director of the Secret Service, faced a tumultuous tenure marked by multiple security failures. Her testimony before Congress came after the same White House fence-jumping incident that led to Clancy's hearing and a separate incident involving an armed contractor in an elevator with the president. Pierson's hearing was characterized by bipartisan criticism and calls for accountability. Unlike Clancy, Pierson was compelled to resign shortly after her testimony, as confidence in her leadership eroded amid the mounting scandals.
These hearings underscore the need for accountability and transparency within the Secret Service. In Cheatle's case, the subpoena indicated a heightened level of congressional sensitivity and oversight, reflecting the gravity of the allegations against the agency.
On Monday, her future looked uncertain, with some believing that her proactive stance might have helped her navigate this intense scrutiny without stepping down. This ultimately proved to be overly hopeful.
Each of these hearings has prompted discussions about necessary reforms within the Secret Service. Clancy's tenure saw attempts to modernize the agency, including technological upgrades and enhanced training programs. Pierson's short-lived reforms were overshadowed by her resignation, while Cheatle's hearing and resignation is hoped and expected to catalyze further change.
The testimony of Secret Service directors, whether resulting in resignations or not, underscores the importance of transparency and the continuous need for reform. Directors like Pierson and Cheatle remind us that leadership must be adaptable and responsive to the evolving demands of national security.
In the coming days, weeks and maybe even months, the impact of Cheatle's very public resignation, and the subsequent remedial actions taken by the Secret Service, will be closely watched. What is clear is that the role of the Secret Service director continues to be one of immense responsibility, requiring the kind of delicate balance of transparency, accountability and steadfast leadership that, at times, seems perfectly impossible in our political climate.
Ultimately, history will treat Kimberly Cheatle’s hearing and departure as yet another important chapter in the ongoing saga of congressional oversight of the agency, but likely nothing that is going to change the functioning of the Secret Service. For Cheatle, her name becomes part of the past — the storied history of the Service. For any future director, the focus needs to be on ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of the organization, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding national security.
Aron Solomon is the chief strategy officer for Amplify. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania.