Book SummaryProtecting the President, by Dan Bongino

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Protecting the President

Internal Issues at the Secret Service

Secret Service's Management and Morale Issues Impact Protection Mission

This section highlights the deep internal problems the author, Dan Bongino, believes are hindering the agency's capacity to successfully fulfill its protection mission, starting with workforce issues stemming from poor management and an expanded scope. The section then describes problems specific to the division tasked with protecting the White House grounds and buildings, not the president's person directly. Finally, the author addresses a worrying cultural trend of the Secret Service deferring to White House staff's desires to preserve appearances, even when the staff's requests undermine sound security practices.

Workforce Issues: Mission Creep, Poor Morale, Manpower Shortages, Ineffective Recruiting and Advancement

Bongino argues that a series of management decisions have led to widespread mission creep in the Secret Service, which has taken on an ever-expanding portfolio of responsibilities without a corresponding increase in manpower or funding. This broadening of duties, which includes increasingly frequent assignments to secure "National Special Security Events" (NSSEs), securing foreign diplomatic missions, and leading federal electronic crimes task forces, has led to the Secret Service hemorrhaging special agents who are burned out by endless travel for protection purposes. Bongino notes that the unwritten rule of moving, which makes agents transfer their families to new cities periodically to advance their careers, further aggravates the problem. This mass exodus of talent has led to a reduction in the pool of experienced Secret Service agents, forcing the remaining agents to work longer hours for less compensation due to the capped salary for federal agents. Bongino argues that the Secret Service should abandon portions of the investigative mission that are not suited to its workforce capacities, allowing agents to remain in one field office for the majority of their careers, alleviating much of the burnout and attrition.

Bongino further asserts that Secret Service management has become unresponsive to the concerns of the working agents, often dismissing their complaints about overwork and the relocation requirement with a dismissive, "It's how we've always done things." This lack of communication and respect from management has exacerbated morale problems, leading to a further decline in the quality of the agency's personnel and an inability to attract and retain the top talent necessary for the protection mission.

Practical Tips

• Evaluate your personal and professional goals to ensure they align with your core responsibilities. By doing this, you can identify areas where you might be experiencing mission creep in your own life. For example, if you're a project manager but find yourself spending a significant amount of time on tasks unrelated to your primary role, such as IT troubleshooting for your team, it's time to reassess and delegate or address the issue with your superiors.
• Improve your multitasking efficiency by practicing focused task-switching, where you set specific times to switch between tasks rather than trying to do them simultaneously. For example, work on one task for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and then switch to a different task, to prevent burnout and maintain quality.
• Develop a basic understanding of cybersecurity to protect your personal information online. Start by using strong, unique passwords for your accounts and enabling two-factor authentication where available. This mirrors the intention behind federal electronic crimes task forces but on an individual level. For instance, learning to recognize phishing attempts can help you avoid scams and protect your personal data.
• Create a travel impact journal where you document not just where you went and what you did, but also how you felt during the trip and after returning home. Over time, you'll be able to identify patterns in your energy levels and mood, which can inform better travel planning and recovery strategies.
• Develop a negotiation plan for your next performance review that includes non-relocation-based career advancement options. Prepare a list of alternative proposals such as special projects, cross-departmental collaborations, or additional training that could enhance your skills and value to the company without needing to move. Present these to your employer as mutually beneficial opportunities that allow for career growth while maintaining stability for your family.
• Encourage young adults in your circle, such as family or friends, to explore careers in public service through internships or informational interviews. By sharing stories of public servants' impact and the importance of their roles, you can help inspire a new generation to consider these careers, potentially expanding the future talent pool.
• Advocate for fair compensation practices in your workplace by starting a dialogue with HR or management. If you notice a trend of long hours for less compensation among your colleagues, organize a meeting or prepare a report highlighting the benefits of fair compensation, such as increased employee satisfaction and retention, and present it to decision-makers in your organization.
• Create a skills inventory for yourself or your team to pinpoint areas of expertise and gaps. This could involve making a list or chart of all the skills you or your team members possess, rating proficiency in each area, and using this information to redistribute tasks more effectively.
• Network with professionals who have successfully maintained long-term positions in one location to learn best practices. Reach out through LinkedIn or professional associations and ask for informational interviews. Inquire about strategies they've used to stay in one place, such as negotiating with employers, specializing in a niche that's in demand...

Protecting the President Summary Threats the Secret Service Must Handle

Bongino explores the most serious threats that require Secret Service attention, starting with the constant danger of a terrorist team attacking the president. He then describes attacks using chemical and biological arms, along with explosives, before transitioning to the growing drone security threat. Finally, Bongino concludes the section with the new wave of social media threats facing the Secret Service during the Trump Twitter era.

Secret Service Must Counter Threat of Well-Armed Terrorists Assaulting President

Bongino stresses that the danger of terrorists carrying out a tactical strike against the president is increasing. The recent rise in suicide tactics by terror groups, combined with their adoption of advanced weapons technology, fundamentally changes the agency's approach to security planning. Traditionally, the Secret Service focused on securing locations with shielding and obscurity, assuming a perpetrator would need to escape after an assault. However, with suicide tactics becoming more prevalent, terrorists no longer require escape routes, making it nearly impossible for the Secret Service to secure every potential attack location.

The author identifies two...

Protecting the President Summary Secret Service's Special Agent Training Program and Strengths

This section covers the author's experiences reforming the training program for the Secret Service, which he believes demonstrates the agency's ability to improve when the leadership embraces change. Bongino then discusses the Secret Service's strong partnerships with regional police forces, which he identifies as one of its key strengths and a crucial ingredient for success in their protective efforts.

Secret Service Training Program Enhancements for Improved Protection

Bongino contends that the training program for special agents he went through in the late 1990s was outdated and often ineffective. The coursework was heavily focused on clerical tasks rather than real-world investigation methods. The program that taught control tactics, using an altered form of aikido and Japanese martial arts, focused on needlessly complex techniques that were impractical for agent trainees with limited experience to master. He notes that the physical fitness training was a positive exception, effectively preparing agent trainees for the intense physical demands of protective missions, while the weapons training program was superb, emphasizing precision shooting and muzzle discipline for...

Protecting the President Summary Secret Service Research Into Assassins and School Safety

Here, the author describes a little-known contribution the Secret Service has made to improving school safety by applying its extensive expertise in threat assessment to help understand the behaviors of individuals who commit targeted acts of school violence. The Secret Service's ability to analyze and predict the behaviors of those who could threaten the U.S. President has resulted in an effective system for keeping the country's leaders safe, and some of those same principles can be applied to keeping schools safe.

Secret Service Study on Assassin Behaviors Boosts School Safety Insights

Bongino explains how the Secret Service's expertise in evaluating threats to the president, and identifying warning signs of potential violence, led to a groundbreaking research project on school violence. Launched in 1992, the Exceptional Case Study Project meticulously analyzed the behaviors of eighty-three individuals who assassinated, attempted to assassinate, or approached public figures with weapons since 1949. This research identified key behavior patterns and risk factors common to individuals who commit premeditated violent acts. Recognizing the potential applicability of this...

Protecting the President Summary Secret Service's Need to Reform and Adapt to Address Challenges

This final section summarizes the author's main recommendations for reforming the Secret Service so that it can operate more effectively and successfully address the many challenges facing the agency. The bulk of his proposal focuses on refocusing the Secret Service exclusively on its core protection mission and abandoning non-essential investigative responsibilities, thereby freeing up manpower and resources that can then be reapplied to better protect the president and other high-value targets.

The Secret Service Should Refocus on Core Protection Duties and Drop Non-Essential Investigations

Bongino strongly believes that the Secret Service must undergo a fundamental shift in its priorities by forgoing several aspects of its current investigative mission. The author argues that the agency lacks the capacity to successfully handle its ever-expanding list of responsibilities, which currently includes: presidential protection, securing "National Special Security Events" (NSSEs), securing foreign diplomatic missions, leading electronic crimes units, conducting financial crimes investigations, counterfeiting investigations, 419 fraud investigations, and protecting dignitaries....