Des Moines Sun

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) have reintroduced the Providing Real Oversight and Transparency to Effectively Counter Threats (PROTECT) Act. The legislation seeks to require that all future directors of the United States Secret Service be confirmed by the Senate and serve a single, 10-year term.

Grassley emphasized the importance of oversight for the agency. "The Secret Service Director is responsible for a critical agency where life and death are at stake. This agency and its leadership require serious congressional oversight to ensure they’re held to a very high standard, so that the failure we saw in Butler last year is never repeated," Grassley said. "Our bipartisan PROTECT Act is a crucial step towards providing the American people the transparency and accountability they deserve from the Secret Service."

Cortez Masto highlighted support for Secret Service personnel while advocating for greater accountability. "The men and women of the Secret Service have an incredible responsibility, and we must support them and their work. Our bipartisan PROTECT Act will make the Secret Service Director a Senate-confirmed position with a ten-year term, ensuring the same level of oversight as other federal law enforcement agencies while protecting against politicization," she said.

The proposed change comes after an incident on July 13, 2025, when an assailant opened fire at President Donald Trump during a campaign rally. Despite protection by USSS agents, Trump was injured, one attendee was killed, and two others were seriously hurt.

Currently, Senate confirmation is required for leaders of several other federal law enforcement bodies such as the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, ICE, and CBP.