CRI听力:U.S. Secret Service Director Resigns

The director of the U.S. Secret Service has resigned following last month's security breach at the White House.

Julia Pierson is taking the fall for a massive security lapse, which allowed a 42-year-old Iraq War veteran to breach the White House's main fence, and then gain access to the building itself.

White House spokesperson Josh Earnest says Obama had called Pierson to express his appreciation to her for her 20 years of service.

"Well Director Pierson offered her resignation today because she believed that it was in the best interest of the agency to which she has dedicated her career. The secretary agreed with that assessment. The president did as well. Over the last several days we have seen recent and accumulating reports raising questions about the performance of the agency and the president concluded that new leadership of that agency was required."

Agency veteran Joseph Clancy has been tapped as the acting Director of the US Secret Service.

The organization, in charge of the US President's security, has been publically criticized in the wake of last week's massive security breach.

The motivation behind why the man broke into the White House hasn't been made clear.

The Obama family had just left the White House for a family trip when the breach occured.