United States Secret Service facts for kids
Quick facts for kids United States Secret Service |
|
|---|---|
U.S Secret Service emblem
|
|
Secret Service special agent badge
|
|
U.S. Secret Service flag
|
|
| Common name | Secret Service |
| Abbreviation | USSS |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | July 5, 1865 |
| Employees | 7,000+ (2019) |
| Annual budget | $2.23 billion (2019) |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency |  U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2003–present) U.S. Department of the Treasury (1865–2003) |
| Facilities | |
| Field and resident offices | 116 |
| Overseas offices | 20 |
The United States Secret Service is a special part of the United States government. Many people just call it the Secret Service. It has two main jobs. One job is to investigate when people make fake money. Making fake money is called counterfeiting.
The Secret Service is also very well known for protecting important government leaders. Secret Service agents act like bodyguards. They protect people like the President and Vice President. They also protect members of the U.S. Cabinet. People running for high office and their families also get protection. Leaders from other countries visiting the U.S. are protected too. A U.S. President is always with Secret Service agents when in public.
It can be hard to spot Secret Service agents. They often dress like everyone else in a crowd. This helps them blend in and stay hidden. The Secret Service has about 7,000 employees.
Contents
History of the Secret Service
The United States Secret Service started in 1865. Its first job was to stop people from making fake money. At that time, there was a lot of fake money being made.
Protecting the President
The Secret Service did not start protecting the President right away. This important job began after President William McKinley was shot in 1901. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first President of the United States to have Secret Service protection. Since then, every U.S. President has been protected by the Secret Service.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot. Agent Timothy McCarthy was one of four Secret Service agents who took a bullet to protect the President. This shows how brave these agents are.
Changing Departments
The Secret Service used to be part of the Treasury Department. This department handles the government's money. In 2003, the Secret Service moved. It is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. This department works to keep the country safe.
Images for kids
-
Secret Service agents conducting electronic investigations
-
Sign at the Obama family home in 2021 stating the area is protected by the Secret Service
-
Secret Service Cyber Intelligence Center (CIS)
-
Secret Service agents to guard President George W. Bush in 2008.
-
Secret Service agents protecting President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
-
Secret Service agent trainees at the James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC)
-
Secret Service officer and his police dog as part of the Emergency Response Team (ERT)
-
Secret Service snipers protect Vice President Mike Pence in Indianapolis in 2017.
-
Secret Service counter-sniper marksman on top of the White House's roof, armed with a sniper rifle
-
Secret Service agent in business suit working President Obama's protection detail
-
Secret Service Field Offices
-
ecret Service badge (1875–1890)
-
ecret Service badge (1890–1971)
-
ecret Service badge (1971–2003)
-
ecret Service badge (2003–present)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
See also
In Spanish: Servicio Secreto de los Estados Unidos para niños
