Why the Secret Service says it needs thousands of new agents before the next election
- The U.S. Secret Service has awarded a $90 million contract for a major advertising campaign to significantly increase its workforce.
- The contract, reportedly the largest ever for recruitment by the agency, went to Avvy LLC, a Virginia-based company with no previous federal contracts.
- The campaign aims to attract over 41,000 applicants in the next year, contributing to the Secret Service’s goal of hiring 4,000 new employees by 2028.
- This initiative addresses severe understaffing, with a Department of Homeland Security inspector general report indicating the agency was 21.4% understaffed, leading to agent burnout and 1.2 million hours of overtime.
- The recruitment drive is considered ‘massive’ and ‘unprecedented’ as the Secret Service prepares for a demanding 2028 security calendar, including a presidential campaign and the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
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