Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
link to page 1 
Updated March 14, 2024
Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
Introduction
• John F. Kennedy (with USSS protection).
In 1968, Congress authorized U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
protection of presidential candidates following the
The USSS was officially assigned to protect Presidents in
assassination of Democratic Party presidential candidate
1906. Assassination attempts (identified by the USSS and
Senator Robert F. Kennedy. At that time, a congressional
media reports) on Presidents with USSS protection include:
advisory committee (82 Stat. 170) was established to make
•
recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury on which
Harry S. Truman;
candidates should be protected. Threats against Presidents
• Richard Nixon;
and presidential candidates have a long history in the
• Gerald R. Ford;
United States.
• Ronald Reagan;
The USSS was transferred to the Department of Homeland
• William J. Clinton;
Security (DHS) in 2003. The Secretary of Homeland
Security now has the responsibility of determining which
• George W. Bush;
presidential candidates are protected, following the
• Barack Obama;
recommendations of the advisory committee. The
committee includes the Speaker and minority leader of the
• Donald Trump; and
House, the Senate majority and minority leaders, and one
• Joseph Biden.
additional member selected by the committee. There are
Presidential candidate security generally includes the detail
two categories of candidates who receive USSS protection:
(1) candidate protectees, who receive protection prior to
of USSS special agents to protect the candidate and the
receiving their political party’s nomination; and (2)
locations to which the candidate travels. Protection involves
related security plans and analysis of possible and actual
nominee protectees, who receive protection following their
party’s nomination. The USSS is statutorily required to
threats. According to the USSS, protection of candidates
protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates
occurs 24 hours a day until the protection is deemed
unnecessary, the candidate ends his or her campaign or does
within 120 days of the general presidential elections, as
well as their spouses (18 U.S.C. Section §3056(a)). This In
not become the nominee, or the nominee does not become
Focus discusses protection of presidential candidates—both
the President-elect. Table 1 lists the candidates and
nominees who received USSS protection between 2000 and
before and after the party nominating conventions—and
2020.
provides an overview of funding for security operations at
the nominating conventions.
Table 1. Candidate and Nominee Protection
Candidate and Nominee Protection
2000-2020
Threats to presidential candidates, presidents-elect, and
Election Year
Nominees
Candidates
other USSS protectees typically reflect general threats to
the President. For example, fears of kidnapping and
2000
George W. Bush
Bil Bradley
assassination threats towards Abraham Lincoln began with
Al Gore
his journey to Washington, DC, for the 1861 inauguration.
The assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy later
2004
John Kerry
John Edwards
spotlighted threats to those campaigning for the presidency.
2008
Barack Obama
Hil ary Clinton
The USSS does not provide information on any threats to
protectees or investigations related to threats made against
John McCain
protectees. For the 2020 nominating conventions, Congress
2012
Mitt Romney
Herman Cain
also has appropriated $100 million for security (P.L. 116-
Rick Santorum
93). Congress increased this amount to $150 million in
2024. (P.L. 118-42).
Newt Gingrich
2016
Donald Trump
Benjamin Carson
Targeted presidential candidates include Theodore
Hil ary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Roosevelt, Robert F. Kennedy, George C. Wallace, and
Edward Kennedy. Four Presidents have been assassinated:
2020
NA
Joseph Biden
• Abraham Lincoln;
2024
NA
NA
• James A. Garfield;
Source: USSS correspondence with CRS on May 7, 2020.
• William McKinley; and
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
Note: Incumbent Presidents and Vice Presidents receive USSS
The $150 million Congress appropriated for the 2024
protection and are not listed in the table.
presidential nominating conventions is primarily to
reimburse states and localities for law enforcement costs
Nominating Convention Security
associated with their participation in securing the
Every four years, the two major political parties, and some
convention sites. In 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, the
third parties, typically select their presidential nominees at
main security costs that state and local law enforcement
conventions. These conventions are run by and for the
entities incurred involved overtime payments. State and
parties, without a formal role for the federal government
local law enforcement personnel participate in securing the
other than security. Until recently, voluntary taxpayer
convention venue, and also in advance planning,
designations provided certain financial support to
conducting liaison for venue and air space security,
convention committees that chose to accept public money
training, and establishing and maintaining communications.
through the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF).
Historically, the PECF provided financial assistance to
The USSS is responsible for planning, coordinating, and
publicly financed presidential campaigns, but the PECF was
implementing security operations at conventions. Congress
repealed in 2014 via P.L. 113-94. Separately from the
authorized the USSS—when directed by the President—to
PECF funding, Congress has appropriated funding through
be the lead federal agency for convention security in P.L.
the Department of Justice (DOJ) for security costs incurred
106-544 (the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000).
by state and local governments hosting the conventions.
The conventions are generally designated as National
These security funds for the conventions are appropriated to
Special Security Events (NSSEs), which are the purview of
the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), within the DOJ. This
the USSS. Other NSSEs include such events as presidential
OJP funding, specifically through the Edward Byrne
inaugurations, major international summits held in the
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, has been
United States, and some major sporting events.
available for all major party conventions in the wake of the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (see Table 2).
Security costs incurred by the federal government
associated with the conventions are not paid out of the $150
Table 2. Nominating Convention Security Funding
million appropriated in FY2024. These other federal
2004-2020
security costs are covered by the FY2024 DHS
appropriations, which includes the USSS protection of the
Democratic
major presidential candidates whether at the convention or
Party
Republican Party
at other campaign locations. The USSS is also the Lead
Election Year
Convention
Convention
Federal Agency for security at nominating conventions,
2004
Boston
New York City
coordinating other federal agencies, such as Federal
Protective Service law enforcement officers, in securing the
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
convention sites. Federal law enforcement and security
2008
Denver
Minneapolis-St. Paul
agencies, under USSS operational control, also oversee
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
physical security at the convention venue through the
positioning of fencing and barricades, as well as the pre-
2012
Charlotte
Tampa
positioning of federal law enforcement K-9 units and other
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
teams such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Domestic Emergency Support Teams, and Urban Search
2016
Philadelphia
Cleveland
and Rescue Teams.
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
2020
Milwaukee
Charlotte
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and
2024
Chicago
Milwaukee
Homeland Security Policy
$75 mil ion
$75 mil ion
IF11555
Sources: P.L. 108-287; P.L. 108-199; P.L. 110-161; 125 Stat. 615; 129
Stat. 2306-2307; P.L. 116-93, and P.L. 118-42.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11555 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED
Updated March 14, 2024
Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
Introduction
• John F. Kennedy (with USSS protection).
In 1968, Congress authorized U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
protection of presidential candidates following the
The USSS was officially assigned to protect Presidents in
assassination of Democratic Party presidential candidate
1906. Assassination attempts (identified by the USSS and
Senator Robert F. Kennedy. At that time, a congressional
media reports) on Presidents with USSS protection include:
advisory committee (82 Stat. 170) was established to make
•
recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury on which
Harry S. Truman;
candidates should be protected. Threats against Presidents
• Richard Nixon;
and presidential candidates have a long history in the
• Gerald R. Ford;
United States.
• Ronald Reagan;
The USSS was transferred to the Department of Homeland
• William J. Clinton;
Security (DHS) in 2003. The Secretary of Homeland
Security now has the responsibility of determining which
• George W. Bush;
presidential candidates are protected, following the
• Barack Obama;
recommendations of the advisory committee. The
committee includes the Speaker and minority leader of the
• Donald Trump; and
House, the Senate majority and minority leaders, and one
• Joseph Biden.
additional member selected by the committee. There are
Presidential candidate security generally includes the detail
two categories of candidates who receive USSS protection:
(1) candidate protectees, who receive protection prior to
of USSS special agents to protect the candidate and the
receiving their political party’s nomination; and (2)
locations to which the candidate travels. Protection involves
related security plans and analysis of possible and actual
nominee protectees, who receive protection following their
party’s nomination. The USSS is statutorily required to
threats. According to the USSS, protection of candidates
protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates
occurs 24 hours a day until the protection is deemed
unnecessary, the candidate ends his or her campaign or does
within 120 days of the general presidential elections, as
well as their spouses (18 U.S.C. Section §3056(a)). This In
not become the nominee, or the nominee does not become
Focus discusses protection of presidential candidates—both
the President-elect. Table 1 lists the candidates and
nominees who received USSS protection between 2000 and
before and after the party nominating conventions—and
2020.
provides an overview of funding for security operations at
the nominating conventions.
Table 1. Candidate and Nominee Protection
Candidate and Nominee Protection
2000-2020
Threats to presidential candidates, presidents-elect, and
Election Year
Nominees
Candidates
other USSS protectees typically reflect general threats to
the President. For example, fears of kidnapping and
2000
George W. Bush
Bil Bradley
assassination threats towards Abraham Lincoln began with
Al Gore
his journey to Washington, DC, for the 1861 inauguration.
The assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy later
2004
John Kerry
John Edwards
spotlighted threats to those campaigning for the presidency.
2008
Barack Obama
Hil ary Clinton
The USSS does not provide information on any threats to
protectees or investigations related to threats made against
John McCain
protectees. For the 2020 nominating conventions, Congress
2012
Mitt Romney
Herman Cain
also has appropriated $100 million for security (P.L. 116-
Rick Santorum
93). Congress increased this amount to $150 million in
2024. (P.L. 118-42).
Newt Gingrich
2016
Donald Trump
Benjamin Carson
Targeted presidential candidates include Theodore
Hil ary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Roosevelt, Robert F. Kennedy, George C. Wallace, and
Edward Kennedy. Four Presidents have been assassinated:
2020
NA
Joseph Biden
• Abraham Lincoln;
2024
NA
NA
• James A. Garfield;
Source: USSS correspondence with CRS on May 7, 2020.
• William McKinley; and
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
Note: Incumbent Presidents and Vice Presidents receive USSS
The $150 million Congress appropriated for the 2024
protection and are not listed in the table.
presidential nominating conventions is primarily to
reimburse states and localities for law enforcement costs
Nominating Convention Security
associated with their participation in securing the
Every four years, the two major political parties, and some
convention sites. In 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, the
third parties, typically select their presidential nominees at
main security costs that state and local law enforcement
conventions. These conventions are run by and for the
entities incurred involved overtime payments. State and
parties, without a formal role for the federal government
local law enforcement personnel participate in securing the
other than security. Until recently, voluntary taxpayer
convention venue, and also in advance planning,
designations provided certain financial support to
conducting liaison for venue and air space security,
convention committees that chose to accept public money
training, and establishing and maintaining communications.
through the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF).
Historically, the PECF provided financial assistance to
The USSS is responsible for planning, coordinating, and
publicly financed presidential campaigns, but the PECF was
implementing security operations at conventions. Congress
repealed in 2014 via P.L. 113-94. Separately from the
authorized the USSS—when directed by the President—to
PECF funding, Congress has appropriated funding through
be the lead federal agency for convention security in P.L.
the Department of Justice (DOJ) for security costs incurred
106-544 (the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000).
by state and local governments hosting the conventions.
The conventions are generally designated as National
These security funds for the conventions are appropriated to
Special Security Events (NSSEs), which are the purview of
the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), within the DOJ. This
the USSS. Other NSSEs include such events as presidential
OJP funding, specifically through the Edward Byrne
inaugurations, major international summits held in the
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, has been
United States, and some major sporting events.
available for all major party conventions in the wake of the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (see Table 2).
Security costs incurred by the federal government
associated with the conventions are not paid out of the $150
Table 2. Nominating Convention Security Funding
million appropriated in FY2024. These other federal
2004-2020
security costs are covered by the FY2024 DHS
appropriations, which includes the USSS protection of the
Democratic
major presidential candidates whether at the convention or
Party
Republican Party
at other campaign locations. The USSS is also the Lead
Election Year
Convention
Convention
Federal Agency for security at nominating conventions,
2004
Boston
New York City
coordinating other federal agencies, such as Federal
Protective Service law enforcement officers, in securing the
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
convention sites. Federal law enforcement and security
2008
Denver
Minneapolis-St. Paul
agencies, under USSS operational control, also oversee
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
physical security at the convention venue through the
positioning of fencing and barricades, as well as the pre-
2012
Charlotte
Tampa
positioning of federal law enforcement K-9 units and other
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
teams such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Domestic Emergency Support Teams, and Urban Search
2016
Philadelphia
Cleveland
and Rescue Teams.
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
2020
Milwaukee
Charlotte
$50 mil ion
$50 mil ion
Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and
2024
Chicago
Milwaukee
Homeland Security Policy
$75 mil ion
$75 mil ion
IF11555
Sources: P.L. 108-287; P.L. 108-199; P.L. 110-161; 125 Stat. 615; 129
Stat. 2306-2307; P.L. 116-93, and P.L. 118-42.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Presidential Candidate and Nominating Convention Security
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11555 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED