Critical Decisions After 9/11 Led To Slow, Steady Decline In Quality For Secret Service -- Washington Post

The Secret Service began struggling to carry out its most basic duties after Congress and the George W. Bush administration expanded the elite law enforcement agency’s mission in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

According to government documents and interviews with dozens of current and former officials, the recent string of security lapses at the White House resulted from a combination of tight budgets, bureaucratic battles and rapidly growing demands on the agency that have persisted through the Bush and Obama administrations in the 13 years since the attacks. At the same time, the Secret Service was hit by a wave of early retirements that eliminated a generation of experienced staff members and left the agency in a weakened state just as its duties were growing.

The agency assumed new responsibilities monitoring crowds at an increasing number of major sporting events and other large gatherings seen as potential targets for terrorists. A new anti-terrorism law gave the agency a leading role in tracking cyberthreats against U.S. financial systems. And Bush expanded the circle of people granted round-the-clock protection to include the president’s and vice president’s extended family and some White House aides — an expansion that has been largely maintained under President Obama.

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Update #1: Timeline: The Secret Service: Stretched to the breaking point (Washington Post)

My Comment: I know that the US Secret Service has problems (lack of security at the White House, Secret Service agents with hookers, etc.) ..... but when I read this story .... The carefree Facebook pictures of an Obama motorcade driver, 24, who admits she had no security training, had never driven a van before and is stunned that anyone would 'trust' her to drive (Daily Mail) .... and the US Secret Service response to that report .... Secret Service Sees No Problem With Volunteer Drivers in Presidential Motorcades (ABC News). Yup .... there is a problem with the US Secret Service.

Update #2: Driver Wanted for Obama Motorcade. Novice Welcome. -- New York Times