Washington, DC - Congressman Steve Pearce released the following statement in response to the severity of recent security breaches at the White House, urging Julia Pierson, Director of the Secret Service, to resign.

"Secret Service agents are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our president, and should be commended for their efforts. The vast majority of agents are decent men and women committed to their duty of securing the White House. In the 1970s, Secret Service agents protected President Ford from two attempts on his life. In 1981, they helped save President Reagan after he was shot by John Hinckley. On September 19th, an off-duty Secret Service agent stopped a would-be attacker during the security breach," said Congressman Pearce.

"However, the most recent security breaches are totally unacceptable, and warrant accountability at the highest level. The presence of an armed person on an elevator with the President of the United States is outrageous and frightening. I believe that Secret Service Director Julia Pierson should take 'full responsibility', as she said she would yesterday, and resign her post. The complete failure of the security plan put the lives of President Obama and his family in danger. Thankfully, the worst possible scenario was avoided, but the lackadaisical approach to securing our White House, such as leaving doors unlocked, can never happen again. The attitude of the bureaucracy has been one of business as usual, despite Director Pierson's testimony. This attitude must end today.

I also believe that the Secret Service should be placed back under the Department of the Treasury, where it was housed for nearly 140 years. The law enforcement entity responsible for protecting our President should be the main law enforcement focus within a federal department, and not just another cog in the wheel, like it is at the Department of Homeland Security. I believe the Secret Service would face stricter accountability, and follow procedures more thoroughly if its headquarters were housed at the Treasury Building, next door to the White House."