Grassley, Cortez-Masto seek Senate confirmation for Secret Service director

A bill from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) would require Senate confirmation for the director of the Secret Service, paving the way for the upper chamber to weigh in on who should lead the agency.

The duo’s legislation dropped shortly after news broke that Director Kimberly Cheatle would resign from the agency following an assassination attempt against former President Trump earlier this month.

“President Trump’s brush with death was a Secret Service failure of epic proportions, and this mission failure must never be repeated. Our bill is a crucial step toward providing the transparency and accountability that Congress and the American people deserve from the Secret Service,” Grassley wrote in a statement.

“In light of former Director Cheatle’s resignation, Congress must now move quickly to pass our legislation and put a qualified individual at the agency’s helm.”

Grassley’s office said it would seek to speed the bill’s consideration on the floor.

The Providing Real Oversight and Transparency to Effectively Counter Threats Act, or PROTECT Act, would also create a 10-year term limit for the head of the Secret Service. A summary of the bill suggested the limits would help avoid politicization of the post, stretching beyond any president’s two-term maximum.

Other law enforcement leaders already require Senate confirmation, including the heads of the CIA and FBI.

“By making the Secret Service Director a Senate-confirmed position, our bipartisan PROTECT Act will ensure the same level of oversight as other federal law enforcement agencies and support our hardworking agents in doing the best job they can. We can’t accept anything less,” Cortez Masto said. 

The Secret Service has been under increasing scrutiny since the July 13 assassination attempt at the campaign rally, where a shooter was able to pierce Trump’s ear after getting a clear view within 150 yards of the stage.