Former acting Secret Service Director Ron Rowe awarded himself a senior leadership “performance” bonus in December, after previously serving as the agency’s second in command during two assassination attempts against President Trump last year, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
The agency regularly issues end-of-year bonuses to most senior executive leaders, and Rowe was included in this group. As acting director at the time, he authorized his own bonus. After Sean Curran was appointed as the new director by Trump, Rowe remained on the payroll as a “senior advisor” for nearly half of this year by using accrued sick and leave time, sources told RealClearPolitics. Rowe has since joined the Chertoff Group, a national security consulting firm led by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned following an assassination attempt on Trump at a Butler rally that resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore, did not receive a bonus last year because she was no longer employed by the agency at year’s end.
Meanwhile, agents who agreed to stay with the Secret Service after recent morale challenges have experienced delays in receiving promised retention bonuses. On Wednesday, USSS leaders emailed agents assuring them that these payments would be made by the end of August. The communication aimed to address concerns about repeated delays—a key issue as agents prepare for President Trump’s ride-along with D.C. law enforcement and National Guard troops.
The email informed agents that all Uniformed Division officers eligible for retention bonuses had received them and that other agents were being paid alphabetically; so far those with last names starting from “A” through “F” had been paid. Curran reiterated that all payments would be completed by month’s end.
According to sources, a data-processing error caused nearly a month-long delay in distributing retention bonuses. This issue was compounded by personnel cuts and buyouts within DOGE—the department responsible for administering these payments.
For many agents, the first installment of their retention bonus represents 15% of their annual salary and will total tens of thousands of dollars when fully distributed. These incentives were offered earlier this year to help prevent departures to other agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency or Homeland Security Department.
Congress allocated an additional $231 million to the Secret Service following last year’s assassination attempts to address budget shortfalls and staffing problems (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8282/text).
Ongoing delays—combined with heavy workloads due to visits from European leaders and preparations for next month’s United Nations General Assembly meeting—have fueled frustration among rank-and-file members. Some expressed resentment through memes shared among agents and Uniformed Division officers.
Some believe there is less urgency delivering bonuses to non-leadership staff compared to senior officials who already received theirs last year: “If bosses pay or schedules are affected, things start changing — and that’s about the only way things change,” one insider said.
RealClearPolitics first asked about missing bonuses on Aug. 5; at that time an agency spokesman emphasized recruitment and retention remain priorities for Curran: “We understand the impact this delay had on our employees and are committed to ensuring it is resolved as quickly as possible,” said a spokesman.
