The Secret Service has decided to remove four of its most senior officials while a fifth has decided to retire, the biggest management shake-up at the troubled agency since its director resigned in October after a string of security lapses, according to people familiar with internal discussions.
The departures would gut much of the Secret Service’s upper management, which has been criticized by lawmakers and administration officials in recent months for fostering a culture of distrust between agency leaders and its rank-and-file, and for making poor decisions that helped erode quality.
Acting Director Joseph P. Clancy on Tuesday informed the four assistant directors who oversee the Secret Service’s core missions of protection, investigations, technology and public affairs that they must leave their posts within 30 days.
If they do not resign or retire, they can report for a new assignment with the Secret Service’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The assistant director in charge of training, who also headed President Obama’s protective detail, announced in recent weeks that he would retire.
“Change is necessary to gain a fresh perspective on how we conduct business,” Clancy said in a statement to The Post. “I am certain any of our senior executives will be productive and valued assets either in other positions at the Secret Service or the department.”
I understand that the Secret Service has arguably the toughest job in America. I also understand that that the repeated failures by the agency are unacceptable. So yes, the agency's assistant directors getting the boot after Director Pierson was forced out makes perfect sense.
Luckily the President hasn't been harmed, and 98% of the time the USSS came through. It has to be 100% however.
I'm hoping now that the agency will be able to get back to work. That is if the Republicans don't use this as an excuse to make more cuts.
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