Secret Service phone security lapses put US officials at risk, watchdog says
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ByDavid DiMolfetta,
Cybersecurity Reporter, Nextgov/FCW
June 26, 2026 12:13 PM ET
The DHS inspector general found that agents routinely used personal phones for official work, including during protective operations, because government-issued devices lacked key capabilities.
The Secret Service failed to effectively secure and manage mobile devices used for official business, including during protective operations, creating risks that adversaries could intercept sensitive communications and use them to target U.S. leaders and other protectees, according to a watchdog report issued Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general determined Secret Service employees routinely relied on personal phones for official work, including during domestic and overseas protective assignments, because government-issued devices lacked key tools needed to communicate with law enforcement, foreign partners and other officials.
Those personal devices were not managed or secured by the government, creating vulnerabilities that could expose operational details, employee...
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