The Secret Service reported that it faces the highest level of threats in its recent history, after registering a nearly 40% increase in protective intelligence cases during the first months of this year. Although the report was given days before the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the agency clarified that the increase responds to a general higher risk environment and not to a specific threat against that event.

According to information released by CBS News, the director of the Secret Service, Sean Curran, revealed that since January, nearly 10,000 investigations have been opened related to possible threats against people and facilities under federal protection.

Online threats and mental health concern agency

Curran assured that the current panorama is the most complex he has observed in more than two decades of service. As he explained, the growth in cases is related to a combination of online threats, ideological extremism, foreign actors, people acting alone and situations linked to mental health problems.

“These numbers are numbers that neither this agency nor I have ever seen in my 24-year career,” Curran said.

The official added that most threats now originate on the Internet and that the agency has multiplied preventive interventions with people in crisis, many of them through coordination with family members and mental health professionals to avoid possible acts of violence.

"The environment has become very unstable. The threat landscape is as serious as I have never seen before," he said.

Security adapts to a more complex scenario

During the conference, officials defended the security scheme implemented at recent events, including the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where an armed individual was detained at a gate before entering the venue.

Deputy Director Matt Quinn also warned of the growth of new threats, especially the possible use of drones against protected facilities and officials.

“The threat is real,” Quinn said, noting that the agency already deploys specialized technology to detect and neutralize these devices.

Authorities highlighted that the Secret Service maintains an ongoing risk assessment and has strengthened its intelligence capabilities to identify potential threats before they reach presidential events or protected facilities.