160th Anniversary of the United States Secret Service, 2025

By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation authorizing the creation of the United States Secret Service, the very same day an assassin's bullet tragically took his life. Ironically, the agency he established likely could not have saved him. Its original purpose was not protection, but preservation, tasked with ending the widespread counterfeiting that threatened to destabilize the post-Civil War economy. Less than 3 months later, on July 5, 1865, the Secret Service officially began operations within the Department of the Treasury. Over time, the agency's mission began to expand. Following the assassination attempt of William McKinley in 1901, the Congress entrusted the Secret Service with the solemn duty of protecting the President of the United States. What began as an effort to defend America's currency became a lasting commitment to defend its highest office. Today, the Secret Service stands among the Nation's most elite and storied law enforcement agencies, defined by honor, vigilance, and its enduring motto: ``Worthy of Trust and Confidence.'' More than 8,000 men and women serve in the Secret Service, united by a mission that demands excellence, resilience, and steadfast loyalty. They protect the President and Vice President, their families, former presidents, major presidential candidates, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Their watch extends to