Chairwoman Roybal-Allard Statement at DHS Appropriations Hearing on U.S. Secret Service Operational Priorities

Statement

Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security is holding a hearing on "U.S. Secret Service Operational Priorities." Witnesses include U.S. Secret Service Director James Murray.

"I welcome James Murray, Director of the United States Secret Service. This is the Director's first time to testify in front of the Subcommittee and he is here to discuss his agency's operations, particularly its protective security activities.

"Director Murray, you are charged with two primary missions: protecting the President, key officials, and foreign dignitaries; and investigating threats to our currency and financial systems and infrastructure.

"This presidential transition year, the Secret Service has a heavy protective workload that began with the completed Presidential Inauguration. There are also several major national special security events tentatively planned, including high-level summits and the U.N. General Assembly in New York City.

"In addition, the agency is protecting a comparatively large number of protectees beyond the President, Vice President and their families. This includes some from the prior administration who have been temporarily extended protection.

"I hope you will use this hearing as an opportunity to provide us with a candid assessment of whether your current year funding is sufficient to carry out your protection responsibilities. We appropriated extra funding in our fiscal year 2021 bill in anticipation of these costs, but I am concerned about whether those resources are sufficient."

"We also want to hear details about your challenges related to cyber fraud; maintaining a workforce hiring pipeline, and training capacity aligned with future staffing requirements; and operations during the pandemic.

"While I know you are still limited in what you can say about the budget request for the coming year, we will want to have a good discussion about what it will take to address all of these challenges, both now and in fiscal year 2022.

"I would now like to turn to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee, Ranking Member Fleischmann, for his opening remarks."

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