Protecting Our Public Servants: “Why Executive Security Is a Matter of Duty, Not Privilege”

June 17, 2025, 5 min read – Op Ed 

By: George Powell, Former U.S. Secret Service Agent and CEO, Sentinel Security Solutions, LLC

Political affiliations set aside, I strongly support that providing funding for Executive Protection (EP) services to elected officials is a matter of public safety, operational continuity, and responsible risk management. As threats to public servants continue to evolve, it is essential that those in positions of leadership are afforded appropriate security measures to carry out their duties without undue risk.

Notable incidents, involving a lone wolf assailant, have made this clear. In 2017, during a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia, a gunman opened fire, critically injuring several individuals, including a member of the U.S. Congress. This demonstrated the vulnerability of public officials in routine settings.

More recently, a tragic attack at the private residence resulted in the deaths of an elected official and their spouse. The suspected assailant appeared to have acted alone, yet the outcome was fatal—reinforcing the fact that public figures are not only at risk in public but also within the privacy of their homes.

These events are not isolated. They reflect a broader pattern of increased exposure to targeted threats, driven by greater public visibility, open access to publicly available personal information, and evolving methods of violence.

Executive Protection is a specialized discipline designed to detect, identify, and mitigate these risks. Effective EP services include:

• Ongoing threat and intelligence monitoring

• Secure residential and travel planning

• Behavioral pattern analysis and counter-surveillance

• Emergency response planning and implementation

Properly implemented Executive Protection programs—led by trained professionals—do not just react to threats; they proactively plan to prevent them.  Protection programs significantly deter hostile actions and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.

This is not a matter of privilege or prestige. It is a matter of, duty of care and operational necessity. Elected officials are essential to the operational continuity of public institutions. Their ability to lead effectively must not be compromised by fear for their own safety or that of their families.

To meet this responsibility, dedicated security funding must be allocated at the federal, state, and local levels and available to any elected officials at an increased risk, based on a valid threat assessment.

Investing in executive security is an investment in stability, governance, and the trust of the people they serve.