President Donald Trump has ordered an end to Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris, cutting off the extended security detail she had been granted by former President Joe Biden.
By law, Harris was entitled to six months of protection after leaving office in January. That coverage expired in July, but Biden had quietly extended it for another year. Trump revoked the extension in a memo dated 28 August, instructing the Secret Service to stop all security measures for Harris starting 1 September.
The decision comes just as Harris prepares to launch a national tour to promote her memoir 107 Days, which recounts her brief 2024 presidential campaign.
Why the change?
Officials familiar with the matter told CBS News that a recent threat assessment showed no unusual risks that would justify keeping Harris’ detail beyond the standard six-month period. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, already lost his protection in July.
The withdrawal means Harris will no longer have agents securing her Los Angeles home or monitoring potential threats on her behalf. Private security offering the same level of coverage could cost millions of dollars each year.
Backlash in California
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass sharply criticized Trump’s move. Bass told CNN that the decision was “another act of political retaliation” and warned it puts Harris at risk. She added that she would work to ensure Harris’ safety while she is in Los Angeles.
A broader pattern
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has stripped security from several figures tied to the Biden administration, including Hunter and Ashley Biden, Anthony Fauci, and other former officials. Some of his own one-time allies, such as ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser John Bolton, also lost protection.
Harris’ history of threats
During her time as vice president, Harris was the target of multiple threats. In 2024, a Virginia man was charged with plotting violence against both her and former President Barack Obama. Earlier, in 2021, a Florida woman admitted to sending threatening videos that referenced a potential “hit” on Harris.
Her identity as both the first woman and the first person of color to serve as vice president heightened concerns among security experts about the risks she faced in office.
The move to end her protection stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s own experience: during the 2024 campaign, the Secret Service foiled two assassination attempts against him, underscoring the critical role the agency plays in safeguarding political leaders. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.