How powerful is the Secret Service?

Not very. Its name is confusing because it makes it sound like a spy agency. Actually, it's just a federal law enforcement agency that handles Treasury issues like counterfeiting. It also, for historical reasons, protects the president. It doesn... read more

After McKinley was assassinated, Congress took the gloves off and turned the Secret Service into a service that genuinely was really secret. It was the US's first real service for handling most Federal law enforcement until the FBI came along and took those duties. Until then, it handled espionage and counter-espionage. read more

CNN has reported that the Secret Service is implementing a new security protocol. The defense system consists of “shotspotter” technology that utilizes sound sensors installed on buildings to detect and pinpoint gunshot activity. read more