The Secret Service’s second-in-command announced his resignation Friday as the agency battles a 40% spike in threats against President Donald Trump and confronts mounting criticism over security failures that nearly cost the President his life.
Deputy Director Steps Down Amid Security Crisis
Matthew Quinn will leave his position as Secret Service Deputy Director on November 7, departing an agency struggling under unprecedented pressure. His resignation comes as Director Sean Curran revealed the service has opened approximately 10,000 threat cases since January alone. The agency faces renewed scrutiny of its protective operations and drone defense capabilities, with threats against full-time protectees climbing more than 40% over the previous year, according to statements Curran made during a recent interview with CBS News.
Quinn acknowledged serious vulnerabilities in the agency’s defenses during his own CBS interview, particularly regarding aerial threats. He described coordinated drone attacks as a massive challenge facing protective operations today. The agency has worked to develop counter-drone systems capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting unauthorized aircraft while studying tactics from ongoing conflicts overseas.
Multiple Assassination Attempts Expose Failures
The Secret Service has faced intense examination following the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania campaign rally. A gunman wounded the President, killed attendee Corey Comperatore, and injured two others in an attack that federal investigators concluded the agency should have prevented. A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report released July 1, 2026, identified numerous missed opportunities to detect and disrupt the Butler attack, citing failures in communications, intelligence sharing, and security planning.
Trump survived another assassination attempt at his Florida golf course in September 2024. Then in April 2026, a gunman breached the security perimeter at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, forcing the evacuation of Trump and other senior officials. These incidents have raised serious questions about the agency’s ability to protect the nation’s highest officeholders during a time of escalating threats.
Questions Swirl Around Resignation Timing
Quinn spent 23 years with the Secret Service before retiring in 2021. He joined Fortem Technologies, a counter-drone systems manufacturer, as senior vice president before returning to the agency in 2025 at Director Curran’s request. His previous employment with Fortem has sparked questions about potential conflicts of interest involving the company’s technology, though reporting has not confirmed whether those concerns prompted his departure. The resignation leaves the agency without its deputy director at a critical moment as it continues assessing emerging threats and strengthening security measures for Trump and others under its protection.
After 23 years, Quinn should have acquired so many credits for his contributions that he would be untouchable. He wasn’t, however, and had to go. At some point, the ‘wrap-around’ plastic for the president should have been automatic when among strange, uninspected buildings. But then, who ever thought a golf course would be a great place to stage another attack? I’m thinking Trump should rethink this professional team and start fresh. The next bullet or two might hit the mark.