United States Secret Service

On July 5, 1865, Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase established a new bureau to tackle the rampant counterfeiting that had destabilized the nation's finances during the Civil War. For thirty-six years, agents hunted down fake bills across the country until tragedy shifted their path forever. The assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 prompted Congress to authorize continuous protection for the president, transforming the agency from financial police into guardians of the executive branch.

Today the organization operates under the Department of Homeland Security with a workforce of roughly 14,000 people spread across more than 150 field offices and diplomatic missions in over 60 countries. Its operations split between two main directorates: the National Protective Services Division handles security for national leaders and critical infrastructure while the Office of Investigations pursues financial crimes ranging from credit card fraud to complex cyber intrusions. Unlike commercial entities, this agency receives no revenue and relies entirely on congressional appropriations to fund its dual mission. [edit]