Sean Curran 

Current Director (January 22, 2025 - Present)

Status Quo leadership at the Secret Service continues since the tragic events in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024 (aka "J13") and nothing is being done about accountability for security lapses and needed reforms remaining ignored.

Morale remains at an all-time low, and the already understaffed and overworked agency remains unable to maintain adequate manpower staffing levels to perform critical needs competently. The Secret Service continues to struggle with its recruitment and retention efforts of qualified personnel, despite the agency's latest desperate recruitment campaign that now features slick videos by Hollywood film director Michael Bay, and billboard ads offering new hires sign-on bonuses ranging from $40,000-$60,000. And the workforce attrition rate continues to hemorrhage institutional knowledge of career personnel, undeterred by promised retention bonuses (15 percent of salary) that have yet to be delivered due to an alleged "payroll computer glitch" that apparently didn't prevent the agency's senior leadership from receiving their SES bonuses (ranging between 20-35 percent of salary).

Meanwhile, prohibited personnel practices including Nepotism, "Friends and Favors", and discriminatory DEI assignments in lieu of merit-based selections are still in effect. Not surprisingly, fed-up Agents and Officers are leaving the Secret Service in droves while senior agency leaders continue turning a blind eye to the Agency's deep-rooted cultural problems.  Worse yet, agency leadership continues to ignore the Agency's vulnerability in preventing the next assassination.

Shortly after President Trump's second inauguration, following two assassination attempts, the President appointed his Detail Leader SAIC Sean Curran to replace Acting Director Ronald Rowe, Jr. as the next Director to everyone's surprise. This appointment was met with much controversy and skepticism. While Curran is  considered by many to be a competent agent, critics such as former USSS Agent turned right-wing podcast host Dan Bongino argue that Curran is not qualified to head the Secret Service. It is widely believed that there were so many other better qualified candidates for Director, but Curran had the one thing that the other candidates didn't have... Trump's ear, literally. There is little doubt, that had it not been for J13, Curran most definitely would not have been appointed Director. 

There was great debate, inside and outside the Secret Service, as to whether Curran was the right choice for this appointment due to the alleged "baggage Curran brings." Besides Curran's lack of qualifications, reportedly there were several open investigations regarding allegations of supervisory misconduct within the Trump detail, as well as several known security breaches at Mar-a-Lago under Curran's watch as Detail Leader. However, things were so bad at Secret Service under both Acting Director Rowe and former Director Cheatle that once Curran was appointed Director, the rank and file really had no choice but to give Curran the benefit of the doubt, and hoped for the best that he would at least be the much-needed Change Agent to rescue the beleaguered and scandal-plagued Secret Service.

Prior to Curran's appointment, Deputy Director Ronald Rowe, Jr. had assumed the role of Acting Director, from July 23, 2024 – January 22, 2025.  Unfortunately, during this period of time under his leadership as Acting Director, there was a second assassination attempt on President Trump that luckily was thwarted by an alert Agent despite all of the Agent's discharged bullets missing the wannabe assassin hiding in the tree line with an assault rifle and a direct line of sight of the President who was playing golf at Mar-a-Lago. Amazingly, this time, there was no injury or loss of life caused by either the wannabe assassin (who managed to escape and was later apprehended by local law enforcement during a vehicle stop), nor any of the Agent's stray bullets that missed the target at point-blank range.

Click on link below for details:

Secret Service Agent Opens Fire On Second Wannabe Assassin & Misses At Point-Blank Range 

Source: NY Post / Jesse Waters

LEAD UP TO LEADERSHIP SHUFFLE. . .

Deputy Director Rowe's impromptu designation as Acting Director, was a direct result of former Director Kim Cheatle's forced resignation in disgrace on July 23, 2024, just 10 days after being ruthlessly excoriated by the Congressional Oversight Committee for her leadership failures that arguably contributed to the nearly successful assassination attempt on President Trump, death of rally attendee Corey Comperatore, and serious wounding of two other attendees at a MAGA rally in Butler, PA on J13.

"Government-wide DEI policies being pushed by Agency heads to further the Obama and Biden administrations radical agenda are to blame for the lowered standards at Secret Service and the tragic events of J13", critics were quick to decry. 

Although Rowe and Cheatle may have had good intentions, unfortunately they lost sight of the Secret Service's protective mission and, blinded by their misguided DEI agenda pushed by the Obama and Biden administrations, had employed radical methods that resulted in many unqualified candidates not being properly vetted due to Tokenism (the practice of making a symbolic effort in the targeted recruitment of people from underrepresented groups regardless of merit in order to give the appearance of sexual or racial equality within the workforce) which still continues.

This double-standard at the Secret Service is not only discriminatory and unfair, but is also dangerous and leaves the Agency vulnerable to insider threats and continued breaches in security.  Additionally, Tokenism is divisive and does a disservice to those truly qualified individuals who have earned their rightful place within the Agency based on merit, because when a Token inevitably fails the mission it only feeds the stereotypical false narrative that undermines the credibility of the rest of the group the Token is seen as representing.

However, it's been well over the first 100 days into the Trump 2.0 administration. And while the Secret Service does have a new Director, many of the same critics now question why it's still business as usual with accountability and reforms not happening nor an immediate house-cleaning as was promised.

During a recent Question & Answer Segment with newly appointed Director Curran by Fox News Host Lara Trump, that aired this past Easter weekend, Director Curran was disappointingly not asked the tough questions in what appears to be more of a carefully orchestrated public relations infomercial aimed at changing the Agency's negative public image instead of a credible interview.

Click on link below for details:

Secret Service Chief On Recruitment - "We're Not Lowering Our Standards"

Source: Fox News / Lara Trump

MEANWHILE . . .

Increasing numbers of frustrated Agents and Officers within the Secret Service are complaining that nothing substantive has changed regarding the lowered standards of recruitment, as well as the continued Nepotism and DEI assignments and promotions within the Agency since Sean Curran was appointed by President Trump to replace former Acting Director Ronald Rowe following the Agency's leadership ineptitude that led to the nearly successful assassination attempt on President Trump on J13. 

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, DESPITE DIRECTOR CURRAN'S SPOKEN ASSURANCES THAT "STANDARDS ARE NOT BEING LOWERED". . . 

We have all seen the pictures and videos of the Agents, including the Trump detail Shift Agents and their Detail Leader, now the Director (Curran), who were assigned to work the J13 assignment and heroically rushed to shield Trump on stage moments after hearing multiple gunshots fired. However, the subsequent evacuation of the President was abysmal. A confused female agent looking for guidance can be heard repeatedly asking "What're we doing?"; the detail agents struggle to timely evacuate Trump from the kill-zone... while recklessly allowing the President's head and upper torso to be exposed during the emergency egress, for Trump and his Detail Leader to stop and pose for the cameras to capture that politically celebrated "iconic photo" as the crowd cheers. Then we see three clueless female agents, one of whom fumbles with holstering her sidearm, moving back and forth like the Keystone cops unsure where to position themselves by the President's spare limo that was not appropriately staged for departure. These pictures and videos sparked numerous memes and conspiracy theories that went viral on the Internet, forever memorializing and embarrassing the Agency that proudly boasts the motto "Worthy of Trust and Confidence."

Click on link below for details:

Secret Service Evacuation Of Trump On J13

Source: YouTube

Which standards do these agents meet?

THE SECRET SERVICE IS NOT THE ELITE AGENCY IT ONCE WAS. . .

Over the past several years, critics and whistleblowers have repeatedly pointed out that the Secret Service has lowered its standards regarding the Drug Policy, Physical Fitness, and Work Experience in efforts to increase the eligible applicant pool for recruitment.  This has resulted in a work force comprised of Agents and Officers being hired who are much younger, less qualified, and lacking the temperament and maturity levels needed to handle the stressors of law enforcement. Surprisingly, the Secret Service is also one of the few law enforcement agencies that does not require a Pre-Employment Psychological Assessment (PEPA) in the screening of applicants. These lowered standards and omitted PEPA are arguably to blame for the Secret Service having experienced a number of recent mental breakdowns (incidents include two female Officers in a Catfight during a residence security assignment outside the Obama residence in May 2025; and a female Agent attacking her male supervisor during a Vice Presidential protection assignment at JBA airport in April 2024). 

Click links below for details:

Two Secret Service Officers Catfight Fight Outside Obama Residence

Source: YouTube / RC Politics

Secret Service Agent Detained After Mental Breakdown 

Source: Instagram / Reels

Adding to an already stressful job as a law enforcement officer, are the politics and insufficient support at Secret Service. Nepotism and continued DEI assignments and promotions, as well as inadequate training and equipment only makes matters worse and sets up Officers and Agents alike for the increased likelihood for failure. 

Consequently, it has also been reported that the Secret Service has amongst the highest rates of alcoholism, divorce, and suicide within the law enforcement community. It is no wonder that the Secret Service finds itself consistently being rated each year as among the worst places to work within the federal government.  

WHY HAS NOTHING CHANGED AT SECRET SERVICE? . . .

Shockingly, several whistleblowers have reported that Director Curran is allowing former Acting Director Ronald Rowe to remain at home on leave while still collecting a paycheck as a "Senior Advisor" following Rowe's announcement in February 2025 that he was retiring.  This is while the Agency's already understaffed and overworked rank and file anticipate more personnel cuts as a result of the government-wide Reduction In Force (RIF) prompted by President Trump's DOGE (Department Of Government Efficiency), led by the erratic and self-proclaimed "genius" entrepreneur Elon Musk who either doesn't realize or doesn't care that cutting the Agency's administrative staffing only adds more burden to law enforcement and threatens the Secret Service mission success.

All of this has led many to conclude that Director Curran is NOT the change agent needed to reform the Secret Service, as once hoped, and there is increasing concern that Curran's lack of command presence actually protects the status quo and leaves the Secret Service vulnerable to the next assassination.

Click on link below for details:

Former Secret Service Chief Remains On Agency Payroll

Source: Real Clear Politics / Susan Crabtree

QUESTIONS THAT DIRECTOR CURRAN SHOULD BE ASKED:

1.  Do you agree that DEI policies at Secret Service played a key contributing factor in the tragic events that took place at Butler, PA on July 13, 2024 (aka "J13")?   

2.  As Detail Leader of the Trump Detail, prior to being appointed Director of Secret Service, what have you done to address the multiple security breaches that have occurred at Mar-a-Lago?  What have you done to address the alleged fraternization, quid pro quo assignments and DEI practices within your own detail that you supervised leading up to the tragic events that took place on J13?  

3. You claim that "Secret Service is not lowering the standards, and only the right people are assigned to the right assignments".  So, how do you explain the fact that the Site Agent assigned to J13 was an inexperienced junior agent who was actually one of your subordinates on the Trump detail under your direct chain-of-command supervision while you were the Detail Leader on that tragic day?  How do you explain the issue of sub-quality trainees not being properly vetted nor disqualified by Secret Service?

4.  As Director of Secret Service, what changes have you made to prevent another tragedy like J13 from being repeated?

5.  Is it standard USSS practice during an "AOP" (Attack On Principal) for the Detail Leader to order an emergency egress before the Counter Assault Team (CAT) tactical element (aka "Hawkeye ") is in position to cover the evacuation, or before CAT signals it's clear of enemy fire to evacuate?; or pause the emergency egress to accommodate a Protectee's request to put on his shoes?; or to again pause an emergency egress to allow a Protectee's head and upper torso to remain uncovered so he can pose with fist in air for the cameras while evacuating?; or to again pause an emergency egress for one of the detail Shift Agents to break coverage of the Protectee during the emergency egress to retrieve the Protectee's hat that fell to the stage? 

It has been noted that the detail Shift Agents and the Detail Leader on J13 should have immediately employed the "clam shell" (totally enveloping the Protectee during an emergency cover and evacuate situation) during the evacuation, and once cleared for egress, without pause or hesitation during the egress, should have hauled Trump out of the kill zone, "horizontally if need be" (as executive protection expert Erik Prince so aptly critiqued), straight to the motorcade for departure.

Fortunately, there was no second shooter... Otherwise, Trump probably would not have escaped death on J13.

6.  For the record, can you explain why Rowe is authorized to stay at home as alleged on extended paid sick leave and collecting a paycheck as a "Senior Advisor" after he previously announced in February 2025 that he was retiring?

7.  Why would you follow any advice or guidance provided by Rowe (a holdover from the Cheatle regime and credited for facilitating policies that have been blamed for contributing to the failures that led to J13), when President Trump appointed you as the new Director charged with the mandate of bringing much needed reform to the beleaguered and scandal-plagued Secret Service? 

8.  If Rowe is actually not providing advice or guidance as a "Senior Advisor", but is authorized to remain at home while on extended paid sick leave, why are you allowing this fraud, waste, and abuse to continue?

ALMOST ONE YEAR LATER, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN . . .

• Why were available assets that could have mitigated the tragedy of J13 not utilized?
• How has nobody been held accountable?
• What reforms will be implemented to prevent another tragedy?

It is the mission of the Secret Service to ensure the safety of the President, Vice President, and their families, as well as other U.S. officials and visiting Heads of State. And while the exhaustive list of security lapses on J13 is yet to be fully investigated and accounted for, what is clear is that the Secret Service fell considerably below the expected standards on that fateful day, with disastrous consequences. 

Therefore, we continue to call on the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Accountability to carry out a comprehensive review and instigate changes immediately to prevent a recurrence of such excessive carelessness.

 

____________________________________________________________________

Ronald Rowe, Jr.

"Senior Advisor" (February 2025 - May 30, 2025)

Acting Director of USSS (July 23, 2024 - January 21, 2025)

Click on links below for details:

Whistleblower Accuses Acting Secret Service Director Of Reducing Counter-Surveillance Before Trump Shooting

Source: Fox News

Trump Is In Real Danger With This Secret Service Leadership (Ep. 2298)

Source: Rumble / The Dan Bongino Show

 

Kim Cheatle

Director of USSS (September 22, 2022 - July 23, 2024)

Click on link below for details:

Kim Cheatle, New Head of Secret Service, Gives Exclusive Interview

Source: YouTube / CBS News

____________________________________________________________________

Our last Petition ("Demand an Investigation and Resignation/Removal of Kimberly Cheatle as Director of Secret Service") successfully  achieved 128,423 views, 12,656 signatures, and multiple mainstream media mentions.

See link below for details:

Demand Investigation & Removal Of USSS Director Kim Cheatle

Source: Change.org

The aforementioned petition helped bring about public awareness and Congressional Oversight attention and was instrumental in the eventual forced resignation of Director Cheatle. This was no doubt the first step in the right direction towards reforming the Secret Service.  However, it makes no sense for current Director Curran to retain Rowe (who is a holdover from the Cheatle regime) on the Agency payroll as a "Senior Advisor".

Director Curran should be immediately brought before the Congressional Oversight Committee, and in a public hearing he should be asked to explain this decision to clarify what his plans are moving forward to reform the Secret Service.

In closing, accountability for a catastrophic failure of the magnitude of J13 does NOT rest on the shoulders of one person alone.  And considering the deep-rooted cultural problems endemic to the Secret Service, there needs to be an immediate and thorough house-cleaning of this agency.  Simply acknowledging "this was a failure", is not enough... And trying to change the agency's negative image, by spending a few million dollars on a couple of Hollywood produced glitzy commercials isn't going to fix the problem either.  As the saying goes, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." 

By signing this petition, you help us urge the U.S. government to demand accountability and substantial reforms within the United States Secret Service to bring back honor and integrity to this once elite agency!

The Secret Service spends millions of dollars in recruitment to attract law enforcement candidates to fill the positions of Special Agent and Uniformed Division Officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above, a Secret Service billboard ad in DC; and below, a recruitment flyer.  Is the Secret Service really targeting "the best and the brightest". . . or just more DEI ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are pictures of recent USSS law enforcement officer/agent candidates. Are they examples of "the Elite, the Worthy". . . or evidence that the Secret Service has indeed lowered their standards?