The U.S. Secret Service, an agency once known for its elite protection and investigative capabilities, has recently come under scrutiny for its priorities. Critics argue that the agency’s increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives may be compromising its core mission of safeguarding national leaders and investigating financial crimes.
Loucious Hires III, the executive director of the Secret Service’s Office of Equity, has been vocal about the agency’s commitment to DEI. On the official government podcast “Standing Post” in February 2023, Hires stated, “DEI is every action every day.” He went on to describe the agency’s ultimate goal: “When every one of us within this agency can say this is a mission imperative, then we have achieved our ultimate goal.”
This push for DEI has manifested in various ways within the agency. The Secret Service has established an “Inclusion Engagement Council” (IEC) to promote diversity and inclusion beyond mandated requirements. The agency has also begun participating in Pride events for recruitment purposes and has hosted seminars on topics such as “respectful use of pronouns.”
Andrew Cannady, a supervisory attorney-advisor for the Secret Service’s Office of Chief Counsel, noted an increase in transgender recruits, stating, “I actually am seeing more openly… trans recruits out of the training center, law enforcement recruits, which is great.”
However, the agency’s focus on DEI has coincided with a high-profile security failure. During a recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, former President Trump was shot, resulting in one death and two critical injuries. This incident has led to calls for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who was appointed by President Biden in 2022.
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Cheatle, only the second woman to lead the agency, has emphasized diversity in her leadership. She stated, “I am very conscious… that we need to attract diverse candidates …and particularly women.” The agency reportedly aims to increase women recruits to 30% of their workforce.
Check out what Biden's Secret Service Director, Kimberly Cheatle has been doing…
• She wants to focus on Diversity Hires and a “Goal” of 30% of agents to be women by 2030.
Look how the women SS agents performed… can’t even holster her damn weapon and they look like chickens… pic.twitter.com/I5N88rm7j8
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) July 14, 2024
Critics argue that this focus on diversity may be coming at the expense of the agency’s primary mission. They contend that the Secret Service should prioritize hiring the most qualified candidates, regardless of demographics, to ensure the highest level of protection and investigative prowess.
The recent security breach at the Trump rally has intensified this debate. Some argue that the incident demonstrates a potential erosion of the agency’s effectiveness, possibly linked to its shift in priorities. They question whether the emphasis on DEI has diverted resources and attention from critical training and security protocols.
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Despite the growing controversy and calls for her resignation, Director Cheatle has stated she will not step down. This stance has further fueled the debate about the agency’s direction and priorities.
