Former Vice President Kamala Harris has already received Secret Service protection far longer than other former vice presidents — a detail President Donald Trump ended on Friday before she could spend more taxpayer dollars traveling the country on her book tour about her failed presidential campaign.
By law, former vice presidents are granted six months of Secret Service coverage after leaving office. For Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, that should have ended on July 21. But former President Joe Biden quietly extended Harris’ security detail to 18 months.
Trump reversed that extension, stating in his order: “You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris.”
This put Harris back under the rules established by the Former Vice Presidents Act of 2008. Still, Democrats and media allies framed it as retaliation. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed, “This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more. This puts the former Vice President in danger and I look forward to working with the Governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles.”
Yet Harris faces no more danger than former vice presidents Mike Pence, Dick Cheney, or even Joe Biden did once their terms expired. Like them, she will no longer have 24/7 personal protection, security at her home, or federal monitoring of online threats.
Even so, one MSNBC commentator argued, “It is retributive,” saying Trump acted “just because he doesn’t like Vice President Kamala Harris. It speaks to how Donald Trump operates. He use the government to deal with his own personal animosity with people.”
CNN raised concerns that “the cost of mounting any similar level of protection privately would be expensive, possibly going into the millions of dollars annually.” But Harris, like other former officials, can hire private security using her book profits or her considerable personal wealth — not taxpayer money.
CNN also suggested Harris faced “particular security concerns given that she was the first woman and first Black woman in the role.” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spokesman, Bob Salladay, added, “the safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses.”
NBC echoed this line, reporting the decision as part of Trump’s broader actions against former Biden administration officials.
But the reality is simple: Harris is not entitled to special treatment beyond what the law provides. Trump’s directive restores the standard and ensures Americans don’t have to pay for her extended protection as she pursues future political or public roles.
