The Secret Service is defending its female agents following attacks from conservative pundits 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 assassination attempt on former President Trump shocked the nation and sparked questions about how a gunman was able to gain access to a building so close to the former president.
Lawmakers have looked to the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, to answer for what’s 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 ouster.
On conservative airwaves and on social media, much of the criticism has focused on Cheatle’s gender, with some calling her a “DEI hire.” Social media users have also taken note that female agents were part of the team that rushed Trump offstage after he was shot.
The Secret Service’s chief of communication, Anthony Guglielmi, called out the “baseless assertions” that agents are unqualified, in a statement to The Hill, saying the federal agency is “appalled by the disparaging and disgusting comments against any of our personnel.”
“As an elite law enforcement agency, all of our agents and officers are highly trained and fully capable of performing our missions,” Guglielmi wrote in the statement. “It is an insult to the women of our agency to imply that they are unqualified based on gender. Such baseless assertions undermine the professionalism, dedication and expertise of our workforce.”
“We stand united against any attempt to discredit our personnel and their invaluable contributions to our mission,” he added.
The attacks on Cheatle on Capitol Hill have been fierce since the shocking assassination attempt.
“Somebody really dropped the ball,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said in an interview following the shooting, before taking aim at Cheatle.
“You’ve got a DEI, basically, person — a DEI initiative person — who heads up our Secret Service. You know she was working at Pepsi before this. I know she was a former Secret Service agent, but still,” he continued. “This is what happens when you don’t put the best players in. It’s a complete failure on our part.”
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) 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 woke DEI policies over the core responsibilities of the Secret Service, including protecting our nation’s leaders. This lack of leadership contributed to the first assassination attempt of a President in 43 years. Director Cheatle has got to go!” Boebert said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also blasted Cheatle, writing on social platform X, “The DEI hire Secret Service Director should RESIGN after Saturday’s catastrophic failure.”
In an interview with ABC News that aired Monday, Cheatle said the Secret Service bears responsibility for the security lapses and would cooperate with inquiries into the incident.
“The buck stops with me,” Cheatle said. “I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary.”
She has 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 percent 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 statement.