Why are Kamala Harris’ Secret Service details withdrawn?

President Donald Trump has Abolished the previous bad habits–President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service DetailsShe left the office seven months after her failed presidential campaign.

Under the law, the U.S. Secret Service provided six months of protection after the terms ended, the former vice-chairman and his family.

However, the term could be extended, and former President Joe Biden reportedly did so before leaving office.

The move has been controversial, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass calling it politically motivated.

That’s what we know.

Neither Biden nor Harris have commented on the reasons for extending her safety to six months so far. CNN reported that Biden extended it for a year before leaving the office.

From a legal standpoint, Biden has the right to do so.

Under a law enacted in 2008, the Secret Service can provide protection to the former vice chairman, his spouse, and any child under the age of 16 after leaving the office.

Although the law stipulates that protection should not exceed six months, the Secretary of Homeland Security has the right to order “temporary protection” if “information or conditions guarantee such protection”.

Ronald Kessler, a writer with Secret Service expertise, told the BBC, “If you put political influence on the shelves, that’s the standard practice.”

Sources familiar with the current situation told the BBC’s U.S. news partner CBS that the recent threat assessment has found nothing shocking to ensure extended Harris’ security arrangements.

However, some of the Harris teams reportedly feared that she faced other threats as the first candidate for a vice president and controversial, emotional election.

During his tenure, many threats to Harris were made public and served as presidential candidate in 2024.

For example, several men were arrested in 2024 and charged with threats to her online, and in 2021, a Florida woman pleaded guilty to Harris’ threat and admitted she had sent videotapes to her imprisoned husband and said she could make a “hit” within 50 days.

In March, a Florida man was also arrested after Harris left the office.

But, Mr Kessler said, “as far as I know, it hasn’t inspired that much.”

“I think it’s good judgment from the Secret Service,” he added.

Harris’ details were removed in the weeks before her plan to start a multi-city tour to promote her book for 107 days, focusing on her brief, unsuccessful presidential bid.

Mr Kessler said such actions would further expand the already overweight and underweight Secret Service. In September, the agency also took charge of international VIPs and VIPs at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“It could require twelve special service measures across the country to follow her big tour,” he added. “It’s a lot of consumption of service.”

Secret Service protection goes well beyond agents that drive protectors and protect them and their immediate family members.

Additionally, the Secret Service’s mission is to secure homes, such as Harris’ Los Angeles homes, including the installation of security systems and alarms. Agents preemptively identify and monitor potential threats, including those sent electronically or via social media.

The cost of these protections is not yet known, and the Secret Service has not released that number.

The private security of well-known celebrities, VIPs and business leaders can easily reach millions of dollars a year, depending on the level of threat and protection required.

For example, Meta reportedly paid over $23 million (£17 million) for Mark Zuckerberg’s personal safety in 2023, including $9.4 million in direct security fees.

After announcing the details of Harris, some of her allies and Trump’s political critics immediately described the move as a president’s political motive.

Trump has removed Secret Service protections from former allies and enemies, including former president Hunter and Ashley Biden; Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Several former Trump officials and allies have also revoked their protections, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser John Bolton, who has become a voice critic.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom spokesman Bob Salladay told CNN.

Mr Kessler said the “severely artificial” Secret Service could be refocusing its efforts on more direct threats, such as those faced by Trump and his administration members.

“President Trump may be happy about it,” he said. “But there are real practical reasons.”

At the time President Barack Obama is believed to have only another former vice president, Dick Cheney, extended Secret Service protections after leaving the office.

Unlike past vice-chairmen, those who serve as president are safe for life unless they choose not to.

1994 – To save costs – Congress moved to limit the protection of the former president and his spouse to 10 years later.

But in 2013, President Obama signed another law requiring lifelong protection. Today, this applies to George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Obama and Biden.

It is well known that only one president, Richard Nixon, chose to abandon the security provided in 1985.

At the time, his staff told the New York Times that he did this to save money from the agency.