The Department of Defense has approved a request by the Department of Homeland Security to provide assistance to the Secret Service for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the 2024 campaigns through Inauguration Day 2025. The support will be provided at various locations across the United States throughout the campaigns, elections, and the inauguration. The Department of Defense has a long history of providing support to the Secret Service when requested, dating back to the Presidential Protection Assistance Act of 1976. This assistance includes logistics, transportation, and communications to ensure higher levels of safety and security for those being protected.
The Secret Service has recently bolstered its protective operations and has stated that the Department of Defense is providing additional assistance throughout the 2024 campaign season. The U.S. Secret Service has expressed appreciation for the commitment of their military partners and the continued support they receive. The Department of Defense has supported Secret Service protective activities for the sitting president and vice president for many years and will continue to do so during the upcoming campaigns and inauguration. The cooperation between federal, state, and local partners is crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of protective operations.
In other news, final aid bound for Gaza, which was initially meant for delivery over a now-shuttered floating pier, is set to be delivered this week to the port of Ashdod in Israel. The Cape Trinity cargo ship has arrived at the port and begun unloading approximately six million pounds of humanitarian aid to be distributed within Gaza. The offloading process is expected to take several days, after which the ship will return to Greece before heading back to the United States. The Department of Defense deployed a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system on the Mediterranean Sea in May to facilitate the delivery of aid into Gaza.
The JLOTS system included a floating pier called the “Trident Pier,” which was attached to the Gaza shore. U.S. Central Command closed out the JLOTS mission in mid-July after delivering nearly 20 million pounds of aid into Gaza. The six million pounds of aid currently being delivered to the port of Ashdod was originally intended to be delivered over the Trident Pier. The Department of Defense’s efforts to provide aid to Gaza demonstrate their commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts in the region and ensuring that those in need receive the necessary assistance.
