--- title: White House Fence Jumper: Secret Service Promises Review description: "What happened is unacceptable and it will never happen again" canonical: https://time.com/3449408/white-house-fence-jumper-secret-service/ author: Alex Rogers article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-09-30T14:25:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:07:37.222Z article:section: Politics og:title: White House Fence Jumper: Secret Service Promises Review og:description: "What happened is unacceptable and it will never happen again" og:url: https://time.com/3449408/white-house-fence-jumper-secret-service/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt140b9541f9ab4545/6986a61e3bc99963f81a59a7/julia-pierson-white-house-secret-service-breech.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3500 og:image:height: 1969 og:image:alt: Secret Service Director Pierson testifes on Capitol Hill in Washington og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: White House Fence Jumper: Secret Service Promises Review twitter:description: "What happened is unacceptable and it will never happen again" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt140b9541f9ab4545/6986a61e3bc99963f81a59a7/julia-pierson-white-house-secret-service-breech.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Secret Service Chief Pledges 'Complete' Probe After White House Fence Jumper > Sponsored content. 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Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Alex Rogers](https://time.com/author/alex-rogers/) ## Alex Rogers Sep 30, 2014 2:25 PM UTC  U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson takes her seat to testify at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on "White House Perimeter Breach: New Concerns about the Secret Service" on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 30, 2014. U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson takes her seat to testify at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on "White House Perimeter Breach: New Concerns about the Secret Service" on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 30, 2014. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters by [Alex Rogers](https://time.com/author/alex-rogers/) ## Alex Rogers Sep 30, 2014 2:25 PM UTC The head of the Secret Service promised lawmakers a “complete and thorough” investigation and policy review Tuesday, on the heels of [a new report](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-fence-jumper-made-it-far-deeper-into-building-than-previously-known/2014/09/29/02efd53e-47ea-11e4-a046-120a8a855cca%5Fstory.html) that revealed the man who jumped the White House fence on Sept. 19 got further into the President’s home than previously thought. “I take full responsibility; what happened is unacceptable and it will never happen again,” Secret Service Director Julia Pierson said in prepared remarks to a House oversight panel. “It is clear that our security plan was not executed properly.” The Washington [_Post_](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-fence-jumper-made-it-far-deeper-into-building-than-previously-known/2014/09/29/02efd53e-47ea-11e4-a046-120a8a855cca%5Fstory.html) reported Monday that Omar Gonzalez made it further into the White House than previously disclosed, getting all the way to the East Room before being subdued. “There is no such thing as ‘business as usual’ in our line of work; we have to be successful 100 percent of the time, and we are constantly making changes and doing everything possible to ensure that we are,” Pierson said, noting that the Secret Service has apprehended 16 White House fence jumpers over the past five years, including six in 2014. “I intend over the coming months to redouble my efforts, not only in response to this incident, but in general to bring the Secret Service to a level of performance that lives up to the vital mission we perform, the important individuals we protect, and the American people we serve.” House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who called Tuesday’s hearing while Congress is in recess, said the most recent security lapse called for greater scrutiny on the agency. Calling an internal Secret Service investigation “not sufficient,” Issa requested that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson conduct a “far greater and more independent” probe of the agency. “Whether deficient procedures, insufficient training, personnel shortages, or low morale contributed to the incident, this can never happen again,” he said in his opening statement. “We simply cannot allow it.” Issa said Pierson, who was appointed in 2013, had some “tough questions to answer” following the Gonzalez incident, including why the front door was left unlocked and why neither security dogs nor guards could stop the man from hurling himself over the fence, running 70 yards and into the White House. The White House invasion is the latest in a string of high-profile embarrassments for the agency —including the 2009 [state dinner crashers](http://swampland.time.com/2009/12/03/secret-services-sullivan-takes-the-hot-seat/), the 2011 White House [shooting](http://time.com/3441753/white-house-shooting-secret-service/) and the 2012 Cartagena [prostitution incident](http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2113100,00.html)—but the first to occur on Pierson’s watch. “The appointment of Director Pierson brought the hope that the agency would reclaim its noble image—but recent events show the troubles facing the agency are far from over,” Issa said. “The United States Secret Service was an elite law enforcement agency.” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, said the incident “unfortunately causes many people to ask whether there is a much broader problem with the Secret Service.” “I think my major concern goes to the culture,” Cummings said. “It is very disturbing to know that Secret Service agents in the most elite protective agency in the world feel more comfortable apparently—from what I’m hearing—coming to members of this committee and telling things than coming to you and members in the agency. That I’m telling you, when I boil all of this down, that to me is dangerous.” Cummings added that the “jury is still out” on whether or not Pierson can “correct this situation.” ### PHOTOS: Go Behind the Scenes with Joe Clancy, the New Director of the Secret Service  Clancy, left, crosses Pennsylvania Avenue with President Barack Obama, and Obama's aide Reggie Love, rear, while walking back to the White House in Washington D.C., on March 1, 2010. Charles Dharapak—AP  Clancy holds the door for Barack Obama as the President departs Andrews Air Force Base in Md. on Feb. 12, 2009. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  President Barack Obama greets supporters at the Fort Meyers airport in Florida, as Clancy stands watch behind the President's left shoulder, Feb. 10, 2009. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  Blink and you might miss him, but here's Clancy again, flanking President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as they wave to crowds along the inaugural parade route in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20, 2009. Charles Dharapak—AP  Clancy is seen speaking over the radio into his palm mic as he glances in the camera's direction as President Barack Obama and his family walk back to the White House after attending St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. on Oct. 11, 2009. Susan Walsh—AP  Clancy braves the rain as umbrella-carrying President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron walk from Marine One in Toronto, after their flight from the G8 Summit to the G20 Summit on June 26, 2010. Jason Reed—Reuters  Clancy blends in on stage as Obama speaks at the Arizona State University commencement ceremony at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on May 13, 2009. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  Solar panels make good camouflage as Clancy and another Secret Service agent accompany the President and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, on May 27, 2009. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  President Barack Obama jogs up the steps to speak at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and Sen. Barbara Boxer, with Clancy watching closely from the wings, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, April 19, 2010. Alex Brandon—AP  Eyeing those extended arms warily, Clancy keeps hold on President Barack Obama as he shakes hands with people outside of the Top Pot Doughnuts shop in Seattle on Oct. 21, 2010. Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images  Clancy in the foreground, as Obama is reflected in a garage window in a backyard at the Weithman family home on Aug 18, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. Mike Munden—Getty Images  Clancy scans the crowd seated just behind Obama and former President Bill Clinton as the two talk at a memorial service for Sen. Robert Byrd on July 2, 2010, at the Capitol in Charleston, WV. Charles Dharapak—AP  President Barack Obama holds hands with daughter Sasha as they walk away from Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C. after arriving home from their vacation in Hawaii, with Clancy facing outward nearby, on Jan. 4, 2010. Lawrence Jackson—The White House  With hands folded, Clancy watches the press watching President Barack Obama wave as he arrives at the White House in Washington D.C. on Oct. 15, 2010. Nicholas Kamm—AFP/Getty Images  President Barack Obama meets with NCTC Director Michael Leiter, center right, leadership and analysts in the Secure Video Teleconference Room at the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Va, on Oct. 6, 2009. Samantha Appleton—The White House  National Security Advisor General James Jones, left, and Clancy coordinate arrival details by telephone for President Barack Obama's visit to Baghdad on April 7, 2009. Pete Souza—The White House  A flood of bright lights fall on Clancy and other agents as the President waves to press watching the arrival of Air Force One in Springfield, Ill. on Feb. 12, 2009. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  Clancy has President Barack Obama's back during a frenzied meet-and-greet with the audience after speaking about health care reform at the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. on March 19, 2010. Charles Dharapak—AP  Clancy stands watch as the President boards Air Force One at Buckley Air Force Base in Denver, Colo., en route to Las Vegas, Nev. on Feb. 18, 2010. 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