U.S. Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency assigned to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Founded in 1865 to investigate the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, today the agency has dual missions. One mission is to investigate all financial crimes against the United States, including the counterfeiting of currency. The second mission is to protect current and former presidents, vice presidents, and foreign dignitaries. Thus, this federal agency is tasked with some of the most important security and surveillance tasks in the United States. This entry reviews the Secret Service’s history, organization, and surveillance and security duties.

History

Soon after its inception, the U.S. Secret Service expanded its mission from the safeguarding of the U.S. currency supply to myriad other duties, including investigating land grant ...

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