Overview

• A senior Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent assigned to Secretary Marco Rubio’s protective detail was arrested in Brussels after a physical altercation with police at Hotel Amigo on March 31, 2025.
• The incident reportedly began when the agent became irate after hotel staff refused to extend bar hours, escalating into a confrontation with police.
• The agent was released from custody the same day following intervention by the U.S. Embassy in Belgium.
• Sources within the DSS have cited severe staffing shortages and excessive workloads as contributing factors to operational strain, raising concerns about potential security vulnerabilities.
• The incident has intensified scrutiny of the DSS’s ability to manage high-stakes diplomatic missions, with calls for an evaluation of systemic issues within the agency.