WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has authorized U.S. Secret Service protection for Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson, a DHS spokeswoman said on Thursday.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson made the authorization, as required by law, after consulting with a congressional advisory committee, spokeswoman Marsha Catron said.
The two candidates in October formally requested 24-hour protection, which could involve nearly 300 agents from the Secret Service, the agency that guards the president and other high-profile political figures.
The two Republicans were the first 2016 presidential candidates to request Secret Service protection, Catron said. As a former first lady, Democrat Hillary Clinton already has a Secret Service detail.
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