On August 29, 2025, President Donald Trump made the contentious decision to revoke the Secret Service protection of former Vice President Kamala Harris, effective September 1. This move nullifies the additional year of security that was discreetly authorized by former President Joe Biden, reverting to the standard six-month post-office coverage for ex-vice presidents.
The official notification of this decision was succinct: "You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris." The revocation arrives just as Harris is about to embark on a global tour to promote her memoir, "107 Days," which paints a detailed account of her brief 2024 presidential run.
The tour, covering 15 cities, is scheduled to begin on September 24, right after the release of her book. It promises to be a highly publicized affair, with stops in key U.S. cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and international destinations including Canada and London. The tour is slated to wrap up in Miami on November 20.
Harris' team responded to the termination of her protection with a professional tone. Senior adviser Kirsten Allen expressed gratitude towards the Secret Service for their dedication to safety. Nevertheless, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic figures. California Governor Gavin Newsom described the action as influenced by "erratic, vindictive political impulses," and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass deemed it an "act of revenge," highlighting concerns over Harris' safety.
This is not the first time President Trump has withdrawn protections from former officials. Earlier in the year, he ended Secret Service coverage for former national security adviser John Bolton and removed Biden's security clearances along with daily intelligence briefings. These instances illustrate the discretionary power a sitting president holds over the security arrangements of former officials.
Sources have speculated that Biden's extension of Harris' protection may have been motivated by her candidacy, race, and gender, though no official justification for Trump's revocation has been provided. In light of the Secret Service detail's termination, local law enforcement, such as the Los Angeles Police Department, may step in to provide security during Harris' book tour.
The broader implications of presidential discretion over post-office protections are now under scrutiny. As Harris begins her tour, coordination between her team and local authorities will be crucial to ensure her safety in public spaces. This latest development raises pertinent questions about the management of security for former vice presidents and the precedent it sets for the future.
