Even under new leadership, the U.S. Secret Service is struggling to shake off a troubling culture of dysfunction, misconduct, and internal strife—problems that once again made headlines this week following a physical altercation between two female Uniformed Division officers outside Barack Obama’s Washington, D.C. residence at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The early-morning brawl, first reported by RealClearPolitics, unfolded on what should be one of the most secure and professional posts in the country: protecting a former president. Instead, the scene devolved into chaos, fueled by anger, a missed shift change, and what insiders are calling a disturbing lack of professionalism.
The incident was reportedly sparked when one officer, furious that her shift replacement arrived late, placed a call on a recorded Secret Service line to request a supervisor—warning that they needed to come “immediately before I whoop this girl’s ass.” The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical fight, with both officers in uniform and on duty in a high-security zone.
Sources say audio of the call is circulating internally, further embarrassing an agency already under scrutiny for misconduct.
🚨#BREAKING SCOOP: IS DEI STILL PLAGUING THE SECRET SERVICE?
FRACAS OUTSIDE OBAMA RESIDENCE RAISES NEW QUESTIONS: Get a supervisor “immediately before I whoop this girl’s ass.”Two female Secret Service Uniformed Division officers got into a physical fight outside former… pic.twitter.com/RmEDx6BWXD
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) May 22, 2025
It remains unclear whether either officer was injured or has been formally disciplined. Fortunately, the commotion reportedly did not wake the Obamas or disturb nearby residents. But the damage to the Secret Service’s reputation may be harder to contain.
This isn’t an isolated lapse. The agency has struggled for years with scandals involving brawls, alcohol abuse, and bizarre behavior, undermining its once-elite reputation.
In a separate 2023 incident, Michelle Herczeg, a female agent assigned to protect Vice President Kamala Harris, had a meltdown at Joint Base Andrews, throwing menstrual pads, deleting apps off a fellow agent’s phone, and physically attacking her superior. She had to be physically restrained, disarmed, and removed in an ambulance.
According to RealClearPolitics, Herczeg tackled and punched a superior officer, prompting panic due to her loaded firearm still being holstered during the altercation.
President Donald Trump, having now re-assumed office, wasted no time addressing what many see as a crisis of discipline and standards. Earlier this year, he named Sean Curran—one of the agents who shielded him after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania—as the new Secret Service Director.
Curran was reportedly tasked with “cleaning house” from day one. According to agency insiders, 5–10 senior officials—including former Director Ron Rowe—were informed they’d be fired, reassigned, or pushed into early retirement.
While the White House has yet to issue a formal statement on the latest brawl, critics are already pointing to the long-standing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Secret Service as part of the broader problem. The agency, once considered an elite branch of law enforcement, is increasingly seen by some as over-politicized, poorly managed, and ideologically compromised.
The concern isn’t about who serves—but whether the standards of conduct and qualification are being diluted in favor of box-checking and identity quotas.
