Press release: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has designated the state funeral for former President Gerald R. Ford as a National Special Security Event (NSSE).
A number of factors are taken into consideration when designating an event as a National Special Security Event, including anticipated attendance by dignitaries and the size and significance of the event. When an event is designated a NSSE, the U.S Secret Service assumes its legally mandated role as the lead federal agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan. Federal resources will be deployed to maintain the level of security needed for the event and the area.”