Overview

• Sean Curran, a 23-year Secret Service veteran, was named director after serving as the head of Trump's personal security detail.
• Curran gained national recognition for shielding Trump during a July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman grazed the president's ear and killed one rally attendee.
• The Secret Service faced bipartisan criticism for operational failures in preventing the attack, with a report calling for leadership from outside the agency; Curran's appointment diverges from this recommendation.
• Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned shortly after the Butler incident, with Acting Director Ronald Rowe serving in the interim.
• Curran's leadership begins at a time when calls for agency reform and increased funding to address systemic issues remain a central focus.