Senators want next Secret Service director confirmed by Senate

Senators from both parties are demanding more control over who will be the future directors of the Secret Service after former agency chief Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation that would require Secret Service directors appointed by the president to be confirmed by the Senate and to serve no more than one 10-year term.

The senators said the rationale is threefold: There should be more oversight by giving lawmakers the ability to consider nominees more seriously, vet candidates and their qualifications, and pressure nominees on relevant agency matters.

“Our bill is a critical step toward providing the transparency and accountability that Congress and the American people deserve from the Secret Service,” Grassley said.

Cortez Masto noted that the proposal would “ensure the same level of oversight as other federal law enforcement agencies,” such as the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration Enforcement and Border Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals.

The pair want to speed up the legislation’s passage in the Democratic-led chamber without a call-out vote, Grassley’s office said. The fast-track route would bypass timely legislative procedures but could be blocked by any member. The GOP-controlled House would then be tasked with considering it on its own schedule.

Cheatle’s resignation came amid growing bipartisan frustration over her handling of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and just one day after she was grilled during a House Oversight Committee hearing. She refused to answer most of lawmakers’ questions amid an investigation, further angering members and fueling calls for her impeachment.

President Joe Biden thanked Cheatle for her service and said he “will name a new director soon.”

“The independent investigation into the cause of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to reviewing its findings. We all know that what happened that day can never happen again,” Biden said in a statement. “As we move forward, I wish Kim the best, and I plan to name a new director soon.”