United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (pictured) authorized additional support for the Secret Service ahead of the November presidential election, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Thursday. Austin "directed the commander of US Northern Command to plan and provide and execute increased support" to both the Trump and Harris campaigns at various locations across the country.
The increased security measures follow an assassination attempt against Republican nominee Donald Trump at a rally in July. It is currently unclear what role the Pentagon will play and whether the decision was based on any new intelligence.