Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102

§1966a Protection of Former Speakers of the House of Representatives

Title 2 › CHAPTER 29 — CAPITOL POLICE › SUBCHAPTER II — POWERS AND DUTIES › § 1966a

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

United States Capitol Police must check threats to any former Speaker of the House and, if needed, provide a protective detail for up to one year starting the day they leave office. This applies even if other laws say otherwise, except for section 1341 of title 31. A former Speaker may decline protection at any time. The Capitol Police will reassess at the end of the year and may extend protection if threats or conditions warrant it and the former Speaker agrees, and they may work with state or local police to do so.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §1966a

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Notwithstanding any other provision of law (except section 1341 of title 31), hereafter, the United States Capitol Police shall perform a threat assessment for former Speakers of the House of Representatives, and if warranted, any such former Speaker shall receive a United States Capitol Police protective detail for a period of not more than one year beginning on the date they leave such office, except that such former Speaker shall have the option to decline such protective detail at any time: Provided, That at the conclusion of the one year period, the United States Capitol Police shall perform a threat assessment to determine whether extension of the protective detail is warranted: Provided further, That, the protective detail may be extended beyond the initial one year period, with the concurrence of the relevant former Speaker, if the United States Capitol Police determines that information or conditions, including but not limited to violent threats, warrant such protection: Provided further, That the United States Capitol Police is authorized to enter into Memoranda of Understanding with relevant state and local law enforcement agencies, as needed, to carry out this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 1966a

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102