In a significant move, the U.S. Secret Service has blocked the renewal of former Director Kimberly Cheatle’s security clearance.
It follows her resignation in July 2024 amid fierce criticism for the agency’s failure to prevent an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
Director Sean Curran, appointed under the Trump administration, has reportedly made the decision to end the security clearance renewals for “not all former directors.”
The move was confirmed in a statement from the Secret Service to RealClearPolitics (RCP).
This decision comes on the heels of controversy surrounding Cheatle’s leadership, especially in the aftermath of the July 13, 2024, shooting incident at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks’ failed assassination attempt against Trump prompted renewed scrutiny of the Secret Service’s preparedness and response.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), who has been a vocal critic of Cheatle, argued that she should not have her security clearance reinstated, stating:
“Following the security debacle in Butler, the former director of USSS made the right decision to resign.”
Johnson added that he saw “no reason for her security clearance to be instated,” underscoring the failed security measures that led to the shooting.
Cheatle’s resignation came one day after a contentious congressional hearing