US President Donald Trump has revoked extended Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris, which had been authorised by Joe Biden before leaving office, according to one of her advisers.
Under US law, former vice presidents are entitled to six months of Secret Service protection after leaving office. Harris, who stepped down alongside Biden in January, saw her security detail legally expire in July. However, Biden had extended her protection for an additional year through an executive directive, which Trump cancelled in a memo dated August 28.
The directive orders the Secret Service to “discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorised by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law” starting September 1.
The move comes just weeks before Harris begins a nationwide book tour to promote “107 Days”, her memoir recounting her short-lived and unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.
A senior White House official confirmed the revocation, while sources told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that a recent threat assessment found nothing to justify extending Harris’ protection beyond the statutory period.
The loss of protection means Harris will no longer have agents safeguarding her residence in Los Angeles or conducting proactive threat assessments on her behalf. Comparable private security arrangements could cost millions of dollars annually.
The decision has triggered sharp criticism from California leaders. Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass both condemned the move, with Bass describing it as politically motivated. “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,” she told CNN. Bass added that she would ensure Harris remains safe while in Los Angeles.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has revoked Secret Service protections for several individuals, including Hunter and Ashley Biden, children of the former president, as well as Anthony Fauci, the former top infectious disease expert. Former officials once close to Trump — such as ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton — have also lost their protection.
Harris, the first woman and first person of colour to serve as US vice president, faced multiple threats during her time in office. In August 2024, a Virginia man was charged with making online threats to kill or kidnap Harris and former President Barack Obama. In 2021, a Florida woman admitted to sending videos to her husband in prison in which she brandished weapons and threatened to organise a “hit” against Harris within 50 days.
Critics warn that ending Harris’ protection could expose her to heightened risks, particularly as she embarks on a high-profile public tour.
Melissa Enoch
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