WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris, ending an arrangement quietly put in place by Joe Biden before leaving office.
Harris, who served as vice president until January 2025, was legally entitled to six months of protection after leaving office.
That detail expired in July, but Biden had extended her security for an additional year through an executive directive.
Trump, however, overturned the extension in a memo dated August 28.
The directive orders the Secret Service to “discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorised by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law” for Harris, effective September 1.
The decision comes as Harris prepares for a nationwide tour to promote her new memoir, 107 Days, which chronicles her short-lived 2024 presidential campaign.
Biden’s Extension Overturned
Congress passed legislation in 2008 entitling former vice presidents, their spouses, and young children to six months of protection after leaving office.
While Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff lost his detail in July, Biden had ensured his former running mate’s coverage would continue through 2025, citing security concerns.
According to CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner, that a recent threat assessment found “nothing alarming” to justify extending her security beyond the mandated period.
Political Fallout
The move has sparked outrage in California, where Harris is based. Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the decision, calling it politically motivated.
“This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more,” Bass told CNN. “This puts Harris in danger, and we will make sure she is safe in Los Angeles.”
Without federal protection, Harris will lose her team of agents assigned to guard her and her property in Los Angeles, as well as intelligence monitoring for potential threats.
Security experts estimate replacing the service privately could cost millions of dollars annually.
Pattern of Revocations
Since returning to office in January, Trump has revoked Secret Service details for several high-profile figures, including Hunter and Ashley Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former officials like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, a one-time national security adviser turned critic.
Harris, the first woman and first person of color to serve as U.S. vice president, faced multiple threats during her tenure.
In 2024, a Virginia man was charged with making online threats against her and Barack Obama.
In 2021, a Florida woman pleaded guilty to plotting violence against Harris after sending videos to her husband from prison.
Critics say stripping Harris of protection heightens her vulnerability, particularly as she embarks on a high-profile public tour.
