The Secret Service is defending its female agents in the wake of attacks from conservative experts and lawmakers who have suggested, without evidence, that the agents are underqualified and were only hired because of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The wave of criticism comes after the attempted assassination of former President Trump shocked the nation and raised questions about how an armed man managed to gain access to a building so close to the former president.
Lawmakers have turned to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to answer for what has been called the agency’s biggest security failure since former President Reagan was shot in 1981, and a growing list of Republicans have called for her removal.
On conservative broadcasts and social media, much of the criticism has focused on Cheatle’s gender, with some calling her a “DEI hire.” Social media users also noted that the female agents were part of the team that carried Trump off the stage after he was shot.
Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi called out the “baseless claims” that agents are unqualified in a statement to The Hill, saying the federal agency is “appalled by the derogatory and abhorrent comments toward any of our employees”.
“As an elite law enforcement agency, all of our agents and officers are highly trained and fully capable of carrying out our missions,” Guglielmi wrote in the statement. “It is an insult to the women in our agency to suggest that they are not qualified based on gender. Such unsubstantiated claims undermine the professionalism, dedication and experience of our workforce.”
“We stand united against any attempt to discredit our people and their invaluable contributions to our mission,” he added.
The attacks on Cheatle at the Capitol have been violent since the shocking assassination attempt.
“Somebody really dropped the ball,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said in an interview after the shooting, before taking aim at Cheatle.
“You basically have a DEI person – a DEI initiative person – who heads our Secret Service. You know she worked at Pepsi before that. I know she was a former Secret Service agent, but still,” he continued. “That’s what happens when you don’t put the best players in. It’s a total failure on our part.”
Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) introduced a bill to prohibit federal funds from being used on Cheatle’s salary or expenses.
“Under Director Cheatle’s failed leadership, the United States Secret Service has prioritized awakened DEI policies over the Secret Service’s core responsibilities, including protecting our nation’s leaders. This lack of leadership contributed to the first assassination attempt on a President in 43 years. Director Cheatle needs to go!” Boebert said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also criticized Cheatle, writing on social platform X, “The Director of Secret Service Contracted by DEI Should Resign After Saturday’s Catastrophic Failure.”
On a interview with ABC news which aired on Monday, Cheatle said the Secret Service is responsible for the security failures and would cooperate with investigations into the incident.
“The buck stops with me,” Cheatle said. “I’m the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure we’re conducting a review and that we’re providing resources to our people as needed.”
She said, however, that she will not resign.
The Secret Service has included female agents for more than 50 years. Cheatle, the second woman to lead the agency, said last year that she plans to have 30% female recruits by 2030 in an interview with CBS News.
“Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion ensures that we attract the best talent, fostering a robust and effective team that reflects the society we serve,” Guglielmi said in the release.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
