WASHINGTON - The expanding field of presidential candidates and the early protection of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama have contributed to tight budgets for the U.S. Secret Service.
More than 2,000 immigration officers and federal airport screeners will join security details, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Those changes in assignments has led the agency to cut its work fighting cybercrime and counterfeiting
Protection for Obama, D-Ill., began early after concerns were expressed about his safety.
The White House increased the number of its workers getting protection from 26 to 54 after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Secret Service is also preparing 103 agents to protect U.S. President George Bush in his retirement, the Post reported.
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