Does the Secret Service need to protect 36 people?

Testifying before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle noted that her agency maintains full-time protective details for 36 people.

That’s a large number. But the Secret Service also protects visiting heads of state, their spouses, and certain VIPs visiting the United States. The president can also issue an executive order assigning protection to other people. This begs the question as to whether the Secret Service is required to protect too many people and whether this limits its ability to protect those facing the greatest threat level. The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump underlines why this is a significant concern.