On September 11, 2001, U.S. Secret Service Director Brian Stafford faced an escalating crisis from the agency's Crisis Center at its Washington, D.C. headquarters. As he directed the response and monitored the safety of multiple protectees, including President George W. Bush who was in Florida, he also considered the possibility of a decapitation strike against U.S. leadership.
Stafford was responsible for enacting the federal Continuity of Operations Plan, under Presidential Decision Directive 67, a framework designed to relocate U.S. leadership to safety. This plan, which had never been fully activated in this manner, represented a posture not even seen during World War II. The nation had trained for such a scenario but never executed it.
In New York City, Special Agents Tom Armas and John Buckley were at the New York Field Office for an annual UN General Assembly briefing when the attacks began. They responded by entering the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Near the 40th floor, the tower shifted from the shockwave of the South Tower's impact, knocking them off their feet. As they retreated, they became trapped in the lobby by the collapse of the South Tower, which blew out the lobby windows. Once the collapse subsided, Armas and Buckley, dressed in gym shorts and T-shirts, led civilians and members of the Fire Department of New York outside. They were briefly separated amidst the smoke and debris but reunited minutes later to continue aiding in evacuations, as they recounted in 2021.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Deputy Special Agent in Charge Edward "Eddie" Marinzel, who was leading President Bush's detail, took emergency action after White House Chief of Staff Andy Card informed him that "America is under attack." Marinzel coordinated with Card, the White House military aide, and Air Force One advance teams to move the president away from danger. They decided on Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana due to its communications capabilities, overriding the president's initial desire to return immediately to Washington, D.C. To maintain the president's movement, Air Force One then proceeded to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, the headquarters of U.S. Strategic Command. Coincidentally, the base had a nuclear war drill scheduled for that day, making it a secure location.
Once notified that civilian airspace was grounded and combat air patrols had secured Washington, Marinzel agreed to the president's order to return to the capital.
Across Washington, protective details worked to secure other leaders. Detail leader Nick Trotta diverted First Lady Laura Bush from the Capitol directly to Secret Service Headquarters. Second Lady Lynne Cheney was relocated from the American Enterprise Institute back to the White House. At the White House, Special Agent Jimmy Scott, part of Vice President Dick Cheney's protective detail, received word of an inbound hijacked aircraft. He entered the vice president's office, secured Cheney by his shoulder and belt, and moved him to the underground Presidential Emergency Operations Center bunker.
As night fell on September 11, Secret Service agents across the country continued their response. Many made critical decisions without clear orders, driven by the mission to protect lives. An unnamed Secret Service agent reflected that on 9/11, agents did not consider their own families until nightfall, with the sole focus on maintaining the chain of command, ensuring leaders remained safe, and signaling that the country was still guarded.