What does the Secret Service do?

Updates published annually

The US Secret Service (USSS) is a subdivision of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for safeguarding the nation's financial infrastructure and payment systems, as well as protecting national leaders, visiting heads of state and government, designated sites, and National Special Security Events. The agency's dual mission includes investigating and preventing financial crimes such as counterfeiting, credit card fraud, and cybercrime, while also ensuring the security of the President, Vice President, their families, and other high-profile officials. It was established in 1865.

In FY 2024,

$2.96B

was spent by the Secret Service

In FY 2024,

3.3%

of Dept. of Homeland Security spending was by the Secret Service

How much does the Secret Service spend?

The Secret Service spent a net total of $2.96 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 3.3% of the $89.3 billion spent by the Department of Homeland Security, which itself was 1.3% of all federal spending. The USSS ranked 7th among DHS subdivisions in net spending.

Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.

The Secret Service ranked 7th among Department of Homeland Security divisions in net spending in 2024.

DHS net spending by division, FY 2024

Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Secret Service’s federal spending has increased from $698.9 million in 1980 to $2.96 billion in 2024.

The Secret Service’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by USSS, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Secret Service's spending has increased 323.2%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.

As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. USSS spending grew more than overall federal spending since 1980, which means that its share of the federal budget increased. In 2024, USSS accounted for 0.044% of overall federal spending.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Secret Service’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Net spending by USSS as a share of federal spending, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, all of the Secret Service's spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all net USSS spending.

How did the Secret Service spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to USSS, FY 2024

How many people work for the Secret Service?

Some 8,066 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Secret Service as of September 2024. This is 16.7% more people than the division staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Secret Service has increased 16.7% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for USSS, September 2010–2024

The Secret Service accounts for 0.3% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 compared to 2010 (0.3%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Secret Service's share of the workforce (0.3%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.044%).

Who leads the US Secret Service?

The US Secret Service is led by a director. This individual is appointed by the president of the United States and requires confirmation by the Senate. The director reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security. There is no fixed term for this position.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement