ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN

The world theater presents the United States Secret Service with challenges to identify and neutralize potential threats by individuals and groups in an increasingly sophisticated, mobile, and violence prone environment. Political and social changes have created regional tensions in many emerging nations, causing physical threats to political leaders to become more prevalent. Within this context, the United States is an object of ideological and fanatical hatred that is often focused towards leaders and facilities under the protection of the Secret Service. Recent terrorist bombings demonstrate the sophistication of their tactics and techniques, which have rendered many traditional security measures ineffective. In addition to conventional threats, chemical, biological and radiological weapons of mass destruction have far greater lethality and scope. These weapons are easily transportable and accessible to terrorist and criminal groups. The grave concerns these weapons generate have prompted the United States Government to respond with security measures incorporated in Presidential Decision Directives (PDDs) 39 (Combating Terrorism), 62 (Infrastructure Protection and Counter-Terrorism), 63 (Critical Infrastructure Protection), and 67 (Continuity of Operations Planning). In response to this heightened concern, the Secret Service seeks to integrate technology and highly trained personnel within its protective mission. Utilizing state-of-the-art countermeasures, the Secret Service executes security operations that deter, minimize, and decisively respond to threats.

With the signing of Presidential Decision Directive 62, the Secret Service was designated as the leadagency for designing, planning, and implementing security at any event declared by the National Security Council as a "National Special Security Event (NSSE)." Since the implementation of PDD 62, the Secret Service has successfully applied its resources and expertise to design, plan, and implement security for NSSEs.

The Secret Service established the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) in 1999 to conduct research and training in the field of threat assessment, specifically in the area of targeted violence. NTAC provides guidance and training to federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel relative to the various forms of targeted violence, including attacks against public officials, school shootings, stalking, and workplace violence. The benefits derived from these efforts include increased knowledge and understanding of causes and antecedent behaviors of targeted violence, as well as enhancements to Secret Service protection and protective intelligence procedures.

The world theater also presents the Secret Service with new challenges in the investigative arena. Since its inception in 1865, the Secret Service has been tasked with protecting the integrity of this nation's currency and financial systems. Recent advances in technology have changed the nature of financial transactions from paper currency and coins to today's use of electronic payment systems. The Secret Service's responsibilities have increased significantly as a result of this technological evolution.

The consumer friendly technologies of electronic-commerce and on-line banking and securities trading are facilitating commerce on a global scale. These new technologies have been exploited by an expanding criminal element that conducts a host of sophisticated financial crimes. As a result, PDD 42 (Transnational Crime) and PDD 63 have been established to combat transnational crime and ensure the security against attacks on this nation's critical infrastructures, specifically in the areas of telecommunications and finance. These systems are prime targets for the hacker or cyber-terrorist intent on causing damage to the economy of the United States. The Secret Service works closely with members of the financial services and telecommunications industries to share information and identify systemic weaknesses to prevent future compromise and reduce financial loss to the public.

Increasing the Secret Service's overseas presence addresses both investigative and protective needs. Our global presence allows the Secret Service to present a coordinated response to transnational crime, and better fulfill our protective responsibilities. With the advent of global economies and shuttle diplomacy, our protectees are traveling abroad with unprecedented frequency. The relationships fostered with foreign law enforcement in the investigative arena have proven invaluable in securing a safe environment for our protectees as they travel overseas.

Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page