Former Vice President Kamala Harris has become the latest high-profile political figure to lose extended Secret Service protection under the Trump administration’s systematic review of security arrangements that exceed legal requirements.
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Harris will join former Trump officials John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook, as well as Biden’s adult children, in having their enhanced security details terminated since President Trump took office.
The Trump administration has adopted a policy of limiting Secret Service protection to only what federal law mandates, ending discretionary extensions authorised by the previous administration. Under this approach, protection beyond statutory requirements is being systematically eliminated across multiple cases.
A White House memorandum signed Thursday by Trump directs Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorised by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law” for Harris. The termination takes effect Monday.
The policy differs from the Biden administration’s approach, which had extended protection for various individuals based on assessed threat levels rather than strict adherence to legal minimums.
Federal law provides baseline Secret Service protection for current and former officials, including a standard six-month period for former vice presidents. However, presidents maintain broad authority to extend or terminate additional security measures through executive action.
Biden had used this discretionary authority extensively, extending Harris’s protection for a full year beyond the standard six months and providing security details for his adult children Hunter and Ashley. The extensions were based on specific threat assessments and security concerns raised by the individuals or their staff.
Trump’s approach reverses this expansive interpretation, instead limiting protection to statutory requirements and eliminating what the administration views as discretionary coverage.
Several of the officials losing protection had documented elevated threat levels. Intelligence assessments indicated ongoing Iranian threats against Pompeo and Hook related to their roles in Trump’s first-term Middle East policy, including the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
Harris faced increased threats as the first woman and first Black vice president, with security concerns intensifying after she became the Democratic presidential nominee following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race. Her staff had specifically requested extended protection due to these documented risks.
Bolton’s security detail was terminated within hours of Trump’s inauguration, despite his high-profile role as a former national security adviser and continued public commentary on foreign policy issues.
The administration’s systematic approach suggests a focus on standardising Secret Service resource allocation while reducing what officials view as unnecessary or politically motivated protection extensions. The policy affects both Trump allies like Pompeo and political opponents like Harris, indicating consistent application regardless of political relationships.
Security experts note that threat assessments can be complex and that protection decisions typically balance risk levels against resource constraints. The administration’s emphasis on legal requirements over threat-based assessments represents a notable shift in how these decisions are made.
For Harris, the protection termination comes as she prepares for extensive public exposure through her upcoming book tour for “107 Days,” scheduled for publication on September 23. The nationwide tour will involve numerous public appearances and events that could present security challenges.
Kirsten Allen, a senior adviser to Harris, acknowledged the decision: “The vice president is grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety.”
Meanwhile, California has stepped in to provide security for former Vice President Kamala Harris after President Trump terminated her Secret Service protection, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to the Los Angeles Times on Friday.
The California Highway Patrol will assume responsibility for Harris’ protection following Trump’s decision to end the extended Secret Service coverage typically afforded to former presidential candidates. The arrangement required approval from Governor Gavin Newsom.
“Our office does not comment on security arrangements,” said Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gordon. “The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses.”
The protective measures were coordinated after Thursday evening discussions between Newsom’s office and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who represents the city where Harris resides in the western district.
Bass characterised the move as retaliation, stating, “This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more. This puts the former vice president in danger, and I look forward to working with the governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles.”
Neither the Secret Service, CHP, nor the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) discuss specifics regarding dignitary protection protocols, including deployment details or team composition. CNN initially reported the removal of Harris’ Secret Service detail.
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