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The US Defense Department will provide additional military support to the Secret Service to help guard presidential and vice-presidential candidates through the November election.
What’s the deal: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved additional military support after a request from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service. This includes deploying National Guard units to key locations across the US to boost security for major presidential and vice-presidential candidates. These measures will remain in place through the November election and into the January inauguration.
Strains for the Secret Service: This comes as the Secret Service is stretched thin, managing the protection of the President, Vice President, their families, former presidents, and first ladies, while securing major candidates during the election season. In addition, the Secret Service also has other duties, including investigating financial crimes, including counterfeit.
What the Pentagon is saying: The Pentagon has declined to provide specific details about what the new military support would include other than incorporating national guard elements.