Bernie Sanders is the latest candidate to be awarded Secret Service protection

(Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Bernie Sanders' request to receive Secret Service protection was approved by the Department of Homeland Security, an official told Politico Wednesday. In order to be approved for the taxpayer-funded protection, an individual must meet a set of criteria as well as be approved by a committee that includes the speaker of the House, the House minority leader, Senate majority leader, Senate minority member, and an additional member selected by the committee.

Hillary Clinton, code name "Evergreen," also receives Secret Service protection, although hers comes by default as she is a former first lady. Donald Trump, code name "Mogul," has also become a recipient of Secret Service protection, as has Ben Carson, code name "Eli."

In September, just under 10,000 people signed a petition calling for Sanders to have "immediate Secret Service protection, just as the other leading candidate does."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.