The U.S. government has officially ended security protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also stopped guarding her on Saturday, following pressure from officers and the police union.
Secret Service Protection Cut
Former vice presidents usually receive Secret Service protection for six months after leaving office. President Joe Biden extended Harris’ protection for an extra year. But on Monday, President Donald Trump canceled that coverage.
This is not the first time Trump has pulled security. He also ended protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, John Bolton, and Mike Pompeo.
LAPD Steps In, Then Backs Out
After the Secret Service left, LAPD assigned its elite Metropolitan Division to support Harris. Officers were stationed outside her Brentwood home. But the move faced criticism inside the force.
Police argued the assignment took officers away from crime suppression in the San Fernando Valley. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents officers, called the deployment “nuts” and a waste of taxpayer money.
On Saturday, the LAPD pulled its officers from Harris’ detail. The union praised the decision. “We are happy to report that the Metro officers… are back on the street fighting crime,” the union said.
Political Reactions
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked LAPD for the temporary support but blasted Trump’s move. She called it “another act of revenge” against political rivals.
Harris has faced serious threats both during her vice presidency and in the 2024 presidential campaign. For now, the California Highway Patrol and other state agencies are expected to cover her security needs.
