U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned in the wake of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, leading to a swift leadership transition within the agency. The resignation comes after bipartisan calls for her to step down following a controversial congressional hearing.
In her resignation letter, Cheatle wrote, “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director.” She acknowledged the intense scrutiny facing the agency and stated that she takes “full responsibility for the security lapse.”
Following Cheatle’s departure, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the appointment of U.S. Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe as acting director. Rowe, whose career with the Secret Service spans more than two decades, will lead the agency through this challenging period.
Mayorkas stated, “I appreciate his willingness to lead the Secret Service at this incredibly challenging moment, as the agency works to get to the bottom of exactly what happened on July 13 and cooperate with ongoing investigations and Congressional oversight.”
President Biden, while thanking Cheatle for her service, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We all know what happened that day can never happen again.” Biden has also ordered an independent review of the incident.
Reactions from Lawmakers
The resignation follows a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing where Cheatle faced harsh criticism for her responses. Rep. Nancy Mace, (R-SC) accused Cheatle of being “completely dishonest” about her cooperation with the committee.
In response to the incident, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced the formation of a bipartisan House task force to investigate the attempted assassination. The task force, comprising seven Republicans and six Democrats, will have subpoena power and aims to understand the security failures, seek accountability, and prevent future incidents.
During a press conference, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called Cheatle’s resignation “the right thing” after the “absolute failure” in Butler. He emphasized the need for answers about what went wrong and described her resignation as “an important step in that process.”
In light of these events, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced bipartisan legislation requiring future Secret Service directors to be confirmed by the Senate for a single, 10-year term. This move aims to ensure greater oversight and accountability within the agency.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), while acknowledging the need for new leadership at the Secret Service, also highlighted the urgency of banning assault weapons to prevent mass shootings like the one in Butler.
The appointment of Acting Director Rowe, the formation of the bipartisan House task force, and proposed legislation for Senate confirmation of future directors all indicate that this incident will have long-lasting implications for the agency. As more details emerge and reforms are implemented, the Secret Service faces the challenge of rebuilding public trust while maintaining its critical protective duties in our increasingly complex security landscape.
