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The U.S. Secret Service is warning that threats against government officials and protected events have reached unprecedented levels as Washington prepares for the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, prompting one of the most extensive security operations in the agency's recent history.
According to CNN, the Secret Service has opened approximately 10,000 protective intelligence cases since January, representing nearly a 40% increase compared with the same period last year. Officials say the surge reflects a sharp rise in threats directed at protectees, major public events, and government institutions. The White House Correspondents' Dinner, originally postponed earlier this year, is now set to take place Friday, July 24, under significantly heightened security.
"The numbers are numbers that this agency and this nation have never seen before," Secret Service Director Sean Curran told CBS News, describing the increase in threat activity as unprecedented.
Protective intelligence cases involve evaluating and investigating threats against individuals protected by the Secret Service, including the president, vice president, former presidents, foreign dignitaries and other designated officials. Many cases are resolved without violence, but each requires investigators to determine whether a threat is credible and whether additional security measures are necessary.
The growing caseload comes amid an increasingly tense security environment in the United States. Federal authorities have cited political polarization, online radicalization and the rapid spread of violent rhetoric on social media as contributing factors behind the rise in threats against public officials.
Secret Service Officer Arrested for Indecent Exposure at Miami Hotel Hours After Guarding Donald TrumpRead more Secret Service Officer Arrested for Indecent Exposure at Miami Hotel Hours After Guarding Donald TrumpThe warning also follows one of the most turbulent periods in the agency's history. Over the past several years, the Secret Service has faced intense scrutiny after multiple assassination attempts targeting President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign, leading to congressional investigations and significant reforms within the agency.
Officials say lessons learned from those incidents have reshaped security planning for major public events, including this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner.
The annual gathering, hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association, typically brings together the president, senior administration officials, members of Congress, journalists, diplomats and celebrities. Because of the concentration of high-profile attendees, the event has long required an extensive security operation involving the Secret Service, local law enforcement and federal agencies.
This year's event will feature additional protective measures that officials declined to describe publicly for security reasons. The Secret Service said revealing operational details could compromise the effectiveness of those plans.
Curran told CBS News he remains confident that the agency is prepared to secure the event despite the increased threat environment.
"We are confident in our security measures," he said, while acknowledging that the agency is operating in what he described as a dramatically different threat landscape than in previous years.
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