Executive Summary
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President Donald Trump has issued a directive to revoke the Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris, effective September 1, 2025, according to a letter reviewed by CNN. The order, issued from the White House on Thursday, discontinues security procedures beyond those legally required, and reportedly did not stem from a security review or new threat assessment.
While former vice presidents typically receive six months of Secret Service protection after leaving office, Harris’s protection had been extended for an additional year through a directive signed by then-President Joe Biden. The cancellation of her detail occurs as Harris is promoting her memoir, “107 Days,” on a book tour.
The discontinuation means Harris will lose access to constant threat intelligence analysis, which covers in-person situations, emails, texts, and social media. Her residence will also no longer be protected by federal agents, with aides expressing concern over the loss of threat warnings.
The potential cost of private protection could amount to millions of dollars annually. This decision follows the earlier removal of personal security for Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, on July 21.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed outrage regarding the decision, stating that the safety of public officials should not be subject to “erratic, vindictive political impulses.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed this sentiment, calling it “another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation” after consulting with Newsom.
Harris could also potentially receive protection from the Los Angeles city police department. A spokesperson for President Biden declined to comment on the earlier extension of Harris’s protection.
The directive from President Trump to discontinue Kamala Harris’s Secret Service detail, effective next year, has sparked significant political reactions and raises questions about the future of security for former high-ranking officials. The move comes despite an earlier extension of her protection and without an apparent security review.
