Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved a request from the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, directing the Pentagon to provide the Secret Service with additional resources for the protection of presidential and vice presidential candidates during the 2024 election cycle.
Concerns over the safety of candidates have intensified after last month’s assassination attempt on President Trump and an alleged Iranian plot targeting him and other officials from his administration involved in the January 2020 killing of Iranian military General Qassem Soleimani.
Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed the request and approval, stating that the Department of Defense would offer increased support through U.S. Northern Command. “The secretary of defense approved the request and directed the commander of U.S. Northern Command to plan, provide, and execute increased support to the United States Secret Service at various locations across the United States during the 2024 election campaigns,” Singh said, without specifying what resources or personnel would be involved.
Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, indicated that the Department of Defense's assistance will cover logistics, transportation, and communications through November. “Following the events of July 13, the U.S. Secret Service has bolstered our protective operations in order to ensure the highest levels of safety and security,” Guglielmi added, referring to recent threats and incidents.
The Pentagon’s support will extend beyond Election Day, continuing through the inauguration of the president-elect and vice president-elect. The Secret Service emphasized the longstanding cooperation between federal agencies in protecting candidates, a relationship solidified by the Presidential Protection Assistance Act of 1976.
