Former presidents receive Secret Service protection for life. Harris, as a former vice president, received six months of protection after leaving office, according to federal law.
That is the order Trump cancelled in his letter, titled “Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security” and dated Thursday.
“You are hereby authorised to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorised by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris,” the letter reads in full.
The White House and Secret Service did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment.
Trump’s ending of Harris’ protection comes as she soon embarks on a multi-city, high-profile book tour around the release of “107 Days,” her new memoir on her short presidential campaign, set to be released September 23.
That will put her more in the public spotlight than she has been since leaving office, during which time she’s attended only a few public events.
“The Vice President is grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety,” Kirsten Allen, a Harris senior adviser, told CNN.
Presidents and presidential candidates face frequent security threats. There were two assassination attempts against Trump during his run for president last year.
Harris, according to people familiar with her security operations, faced particular security concerns given that she was the first woman and first Black woman in the role.
Those concerns only increased after she became the nominee, the people familiar with her security operations told CNN, and was still at a high level into January following the campaign, with feelings about the election still raw.
A Biden spokesperson declined to comment on what led to his signing the order extending Harris’ protection.
But what will now disappear is not just the agents assigned to guard her in person, 24-7: Secret Service protection includes constant analysis of threat intelligence and covering in-person situations, emails, texts and social media.
With her detail cancelled, Harris aides are worried they will lose the same access to threat warnings, the people familiar with her security operations said.
Her home, in the middle of Los Angeles, will also stop being protected by federal agents.
The cost of mounting any similar level of protection privately would be expensive, possibly going into the millions of dollars annually.
Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, lost his own personal detail on July 21 under the standard provisions for a former vice president’s spouse.
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed on Harris losing her protection late Thursday. A person familiar with the discussions told CNN that the governor’s office could not comment on security arrangements or methods which may be activated as a replacement.
However, Newsom spokesperson Bob Salladay expressed outrage about Trump making the change.
“The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses,” Salladay told CNN.
Harris, as a Los Angeles resident, could also receive protection from the city police department. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom were in touch Thursday evening about the situation.
“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,” Bass told CNN in a statement.
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