U.S. Secret Service

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U.S. Secret Service agent performing protection duties

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U.S. Secret Service

Q: What does the U.S. Secret Service do?

The U.S. Secret Service is a federal law-enforcement agency within the United States Department of Homeland Security tasked with the criminal investigation of counterfeiting and other financial crimes. After the assassination of President William McKinley, the agency assumed the role of chief protective service for national leaders, their families, and visiting dignitaries.

Q: When was the U.S. Secret Service created?

The U.S. Secret Service was created in 1865 as a specialized branch of the Department of the Treasury to combat the economic threat of counterfeit currency, which in the final days of the American Civil War was estimated to constitute as much as half of circulating U.S. currency.

Q: Who was the first female U.S. Secret Service director?

Julia Pierson was appointed the first female U.S. Secret Service director by President Barack Obama in 2013.

United States government agency

Also known as: United States Secret Service

Written by Michael Ray

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jan 6, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Date:: 1865 - present

Areas Of Involvement:: counterfeiting

Related People:: Julia Pierson

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What does the U.S. Secret Service do?

When was the U.S. Secret Service created?

Who was the first female U.S. Secret Service director?

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U.S. Secret Service, federal law-enforcement agency within the United States Department of Homeland Security tasked with the criminal investigation of counterfeiting and other financial crimes. After the assassination of Pres. William McKinley in 1901, the agency also assumed the role of chief protective service for national leaders, their families, and visiting dignitaries. In the final days of the American Civil War, it was estimated that as much as half of circulating U.S. currency was counterfeit. In 1865 the Secret Service was established as a specialized branch of the Department of the Treasury to combat this threat to the economy. As ...(100 of 436 words)

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