Kimberly Cheatle has resigned as Director of the US Secret Service amid growing scrutiny over security lapses related to a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Her resignation comes as both lawmakers and an internal government watchdog probe the agency’s handling of Trump’s protection during a rally in Pennsylvania, where a gunman came dangerously close to killing him.
The resignation follows intense bipartisan pressure for Cheatle to step down, including calls for her impeachment from Republican lawmakers. Cheatle’s contentious appearance before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, during which she avoided answering many questions, further fueled the criticism.
While Cheatle admitted to “significant” and “colossal” security issues at the rally, she initially resisted resigning, asserting that she was the most qualified person to lead the agency. “I think I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time,” Cheatle said on Monday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed Cheatle’s resignation as “overdue,” emphasizing the need to restore trust in the Secret Service. “Now we have to pick up the pieces,” Johnson stated. “We need to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service. It has an incredibly important responsibility in protecting presidents, former presidents, and other officials in the executive branch, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
The Secret Service has faced scrutiny for its failure to control access to the rooftop where the gunman fired shots and for its handling of local law enforcement information regarding the would-be assassin’s suspicious behavior.
Cheatle, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022, pledged the agency’s full cooperation with ongoing investigations. Before becoming director, she served in the Secret Service for 27 years and managed Global Security at PepsiCo.
