April 19, 2016, 07:15 pm
Secret Service agents leaving faster than can be replaced: report
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/276908-secret-service-agents-leaving-faster-than-can-be-replacedBy Rebecca Savransky
Two lawmakers say the U.S. Secret Service may be running out of agents and could need to use outside help, according to the Washington Examiner.
"USSS simply cannot hire enough personnel to keep pace with historic attrition rates," House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz and ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings of Maryland said Tuesday in a letter to Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy.
The letter, which comes after a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) probe that questioned the agency's "ability to protect the White House and its occupants," called on the U.S. Secret Service to find ways to maintain the necessary level of staff. The probe was conducted after a man jumped over the fence and went into the White House in 2014.
"The committee encourages USSS to explore innovative ways to fill this staffing gap-such as detailing qualified law enforcement officials or [administrative, professional, and technical] employees from other agencies-in the short-term while continuing its long-term efforts to develop a zero-based budget and increase hiring and retention," the letter said.
"Nearly every USSS employee who spoke with the [inspector general] said they had serious concerns regarding UD staffing shortages," the lawmakers said.
"Some employees characterized the agency as 'hemorrhaging' employees."
The DHS was working to increase the number of special agents, but its efforts have been unsuccessful because so many people have left the department over the past two years, according to the Examiner.
"Although they may have only indirectly contributed to the events of that night, underlying and continuing resource and management issues are negatively affecting the Uniformed Division and, potentially, its ability to protect the White House and its occupants," the DHS inspector general said in a report released Tuesday.
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"In particular, the Uniformed Division is severely understaffed, which has led to inadequate training, fatigue, low morale, and attrition."
