DFL furious over assassination attempts. Say something is fundamentally wrong with USSS and trying to immediately increase funding. Correctly say this won't help in the short-term before the election, but incorrectly say they cannot fix it for in the short-term. DFL and GOP actually trying to work together on this one. Everyone knows what the stakes and ramifications are.
The something wrong is inadequate manning caused by politicizing and weaponizing the USSS, starting with President Clinton, getting seriously ramped up during his second term, and all the way forward until now, which resulted in a LOT of good agents retiring or transferring to other Federal agencies. It is permissible for a LE agent in one Federal agency to freely transfer to an available LE position in another Federal agency. Unfortunately, when enough of this happens, plus much higher than usual retirements and even simple quitting, this creates situations in which senior agents on-site may not have a lot of Very Important Person (VIP) protection detail experience, or even very few agents on-site actually having VIP security detail experience. At least some of those new IRS agents are probably tasked with filling open slots at the USSS.
The short-term fix is to bring the former USSS agents with VIP security detail experience back to the USSS at least until 90 days after inauguration. These agents would perform VIP security detail and train agents in the USSS without this experience and supervise them perform the duties. It's not rocket science, but experience on-site and during planning is critical.
Once the election is over, USSS VIP protection manning requirements go down because only existing office-holders plus incoming office-holders, both with much-reduced travel and appearance schedules after the election, need protection. This time around, regardless of who wins, there will only be one fewer person needing USSS protection (either Gov. Vance or Gov. Walz), as President Trump keeps his USSS protection for life, and VP Harris keeps hers until Inauguration Day (and beyond of she wins).
Historically, LE agents from Federal agencies other-than-the USSS have been borrowed for VIP protection details when manpower demands during intense election years have created such need, but in the past, there have been sufficient USSS agents experienced in VIP protection details to provide sufficient supervision and on-the-spot instruction. Core agent training is the same across all agencies, or at least it used to be.
The other elephants in the room are quotas and lowering of standards.
Yes, it is expensive to send someone to training and then have him or her wash out, but the alternative can easily be someone's life.
Ditto, performing proper background checks.
Fortunately, the best protection is God's hand. He is always awake, watching, and far more than just competent