Report: Mnuchin Lobbying to Gain Control of Secret Service

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is looking to take control of the Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security, The New York Times is reporting.

He has been pressing President Donald Trump to support the move, The Times noted. The newspaper attributed it information to unnamed administration officials.

Talks between the Treasury Department and the White House have intensified in recent months, according to the Times. It noted Trump has pushed homeland security officials to concentrate on curbing immigration and has fired some for failing to do so

The Secret Service was part of the Treasury for more than 100 years. It was brought into Homeland Security after the September 11 attacks in a move to consolidate security agencies.

The Times reported that Trump supports moving the Secret Service back to the Treasury Department, but Homeland Security officials have been fighting any plan to do so. Officials fear losing the agency that has cybersecurity and investigative components.

But high-ranking Secret Service agents are applauding Mnuchin’s lobbying to get the agency back, according to the newspaper. They have long been convinced that Homeland Security did not fully support  their mission, The Times noted.

Any move back to Treasury would require an act of Congress. The Times noted the move would appear unlikely unless the president could gain bipartisan support for the move.

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