NTAC
| U.S. Secret Service | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Secret Service |
| Abbreviation | USSS |
Seal of the U.S. Secret Service
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Badge of a Secret Service Agent
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Flag of the U.S. Secret Service
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| Agency overview | |
| Formed | July 5, 1865 |
| Employees | 7,000+ (2017) |
| Annual budget | $2.2 billion (2017) |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| General nature |
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| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Agency executives | |
| Parent agency |
 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2003–present) U.S. Department of the Treasury (1865–2003) |
| Facilities | |
| Field and resident offices | 116 |
| Overseas offices | 20 |
| Website | |
| www.SecretService.gov | |
The United States Secret Service ("USSS" or "Secret Service") is a federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Until 2003, the Service was part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as the agency was originally founded to combat the then-widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency.
The U.S. Secret Service has two distinct areas of responsibility:
The Secret Service's initial responsibility was to investigate the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, which was rampant following the U.S. Civil War. The agency then evolved into the United States' first domestic intelligence and counterintelligence agency. Many of the agency's missions were later taken over by subsequent agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS).
The Secret Service is mandated by Congress to carry out a unique dual mission: safeguarding the financial and critical infrastructure of the United States, and protecting the nation’s leaders. The two core missions of investigations and protection synergize with the other, providing crucial benefits to special agents during the course of their careers. Skills developed during the course of investigations which are also used in an agent’s protective duties include but are not limited to:
The agency's primary investigative mission is to protect the payment and financial systems of the United States from such crimes as financial institution fraud, computer and telecommunications fraud, false identification documents, access device fraud, advance fee fraud, electronic funds transfers and money laundering as it relates to the agency's core violations.
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Wikipedia