Despite President Donald Trump ending former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection last September, Harris is still managing to get taxpayers to bankroll round-the-clock protection.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that Harris was receiving publicly funded protection from California Highway Patrol cops to escort her around on her nationwide book tour.
How’s she getting away with it, despite not holding public office any longer?
As one of his last acts as president, Harris got former President Joe Biden to sign an order for her federal government security to continue through July this year.
But President Trump ended it in September.
However, Harris’ home state of California stepped in and granted her protection — and billed taxpayers for it.
But the gravy train for Harris could be over soon.
Republican Steve Hilton, who is surging in polls for the California gubernatorial race, has vowed to strip Harris of all state-funded security protection if elected.
Hilton told the California Post that if he wins the race for governor later this year it will again be taken from her, branding it a “corrupt freebie.”
“The Kamala Harris book tour is obviously part of her presidential campaign. Her donors – if she has any – should be paying for her security, not Californians who already pay the highest taxes in the country for the worst results,” said Hilton in a statement.
“This is yet another example of the Democrat political machine siphoning off taxpayer cash into their bottomless money pit of waste, fraud and abuse. We are sick of it. As governor I will immediately cancel this corrupt Kamala freebie.
“Our brave California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers have enough on their plate dealing with the Democrats’ crime wave without having to traipse around after a failed and rejected machine politician who can’t bear to be out of the limelight.”
The union representing CHP officers told The Post it had been made aware of the protection but had no idea of the details surrounding it.
A spokesman said in a statement: “The California Association Highway Patrolmen is aware of the recent interest in former Vice President Kamala Harris and her California Highway Patrol protection detail, involving our union members.
“Because the CAHP is unaware of the exact amount of resources (numbers of union members working the protection), including the cost, we are not qualified to provide an opinion regarding staffing or budget stress (if at all) this has created.”
Last September, Los Angeles affiliate FOX 11 reported that as many as 14 of LAPD’s elite Metro Division officers have been “pulled from working cases” and “crime suppression efforts” to provide security for Harris.
Take a look —
EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell @FOXLA as many as 14 of LAPD’s elite Metro officers are now assigned to protect former VP Kamala Harris 24/7 after President Trump revoked her Secret Service detail.
LA Mayor Karen Bass’ office tells us, “This is another act of revenge… This puts the… pic.twitter.com/dOeqnSQg8A
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) September 4, 2025
According to the Los Angeles Times, Harris was also offered protection from the CHP in response to Trump revoking her detail late last year.
However, the use of CHP officers for dignitary protection would have to be signed off on by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, the outlet said.
A Newsom spokesperson declined to confirm the security arrangement but said: “The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses.”
Newsom, a close friend of Harris’, along with LA Mayor Karen Bass initiated Harris’ private detail in response to what they called “retribution” from President Trump.
“This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more. This puts the former vice president in danger and I look forward to working with the governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles,” said Bass to FOX 11 last year.
Upon the news of Trump ending Harris’ Secret Service protection, the media went crazy, spinning it as retribution or retaliation against Harris.
However, Trump was restoring the standard for former vice presidents after the Biden administration secretly extended Harris’ coverage beyond normal policy.
Former vice presidents typically receive federal government protection for only six months after leaving office, while former presidents receive lifetime protection.