is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security charged with conducting criminal investigations and protecting U.S. POLITICAL LEADERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND VISITING HEADS OF STATE OF GOVERNMENT. The USSS was a part of the of the Department of the Treasury UNTIL 2003, as the agency was founded in 1865 to COMBAT the widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Just A FEW HOURS after President Lincoln signed the legislation on April 14, 1865 he was ASSASSINATED. The Secret Service had NO ASSIGNED DUTIES to PROTECT the president until 1901….