Secret Service Reform Needed After Trump Assassination Attempt \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ An independent panel reviewing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally identified major flaws in the Secret Service’s communication and protection strategies. The report calls for fundamental reforms, new leadership, and a stronger focus on securing high-risk locations. Without these changes, the panel warns that similar incidents could occur again.
Secret Service Reform Quick Looks
- Independent review cites communication failures and weak protection planning during the Trump rally.
- Panel calls for outside leadership and a refocus on the Secret Service’s protective mission.
- Secret Service pledges to implement changes but faces skepticism from critics.
Deep Look
A recent independent investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania campaign rally has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the U.S. Secret Service. The panel, comprising former law enforcement officials, recommended sweeping reforms to improve the agency’s preparedness and communication. It also emphasized that without significant changes, similar incidents could happen again.
The panel’s review primarily criticized the Secret Service’s poor communication during the event and its failure to secure a nearby building where the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired his shots. These issues, compounded by systemic failures such as the agency’s inability to recognize unique risks facing Trump, highlighted deep-rooted problems. According to the 52-page report, the agency’s culture of “doing more with less” was detrimental to its core protective mission.
The report suggested bringing in new leadership from outside the agency to address these deficiencies. In a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, the authors wrote, “Without that reform, the Independent Review Panel believes another Butler can and will happen again.” The phrase “another Butler” refers to the July 13, 2023, incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the assassination attempt occurred.
The rally turned tragic when Crooks, perched on a nearby rooftop, opened fire, killing one attendee and wounding two others. Trump was grazed in the ear before Secret Service agents quickly evacuated him from the stage. The report also cited a separate incident in Florida, where a gunman failed to gain a clear shot at Trump while he was golfing, further shaking public confidence in the agency’s ability to protect high-profile figures.
The report comes after multiple investigations, including inquiries by Congress, internal Secret Service reviews, and oversight by the Department of Homeland Security. Despite the agency making some progress, such as improving operational readiness and communication strategies, the panel noted more needs to be done. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged the report’s findings and promised that the agency is working to modernize its technology, bolster training, and improve retention of personnel.
Mayorkas also responded, stating that the department is already taking action in light of “the security failures” identified at the rally. He further emphasized that systemic issues within the agency need to be addressed to prevent such failures from recurring.
Key Findings and Recommendations
Poor Communication and Lack of Security Planning
One of the report’s main critiques was the poor coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement during the Butler rally. The building from which Crooks opened fire was left unsecured, and communications between different agencies were chaotic and ineffective. Agents protecting Trump had to switch radio channels because of interference from those protecting first lady Jill Biden, who was at an event in Pittsburgh. Additionally, personnel on the ground used an unorganized mix of radio, cell phone, text, and email, creating further confusion. The report also noted that there were two separate command posts, which further hindered coordinated decision-making.
Cultural and Organizational Shortcomings
The review revealed that the Secret Service personnel were operating under a “do more with less” mindset. The panel criticized the lack of an individualized risk assessment for protecting Trump, stating that the additional security measures deployed after the Butler shooting should have been implemented beforehand. It pointed to an overreliance on standard protocols for former presidents, candidates, and nominees, rather than tailoring security to specific risks.
The report also highlighted a lack of accountability among senior staff involved in the rally’s security. For instance, a senior agent tasked with coordinating communications failed to conduct a proper walkthrough of the rally site beforehand or brief the state police on communication plans.
Inexperience of Key Agents
Inexperienced agents were cited as a contributing factor to the rally’s security failures. One agent, responsible for coordinating security with the Pittsburgh field office, had only been in the Secret Service since 2020 and had limited experience in site security planning. Another agent operating a drone detection system had only used the technology twice before the rally.
Recommendations for Reform
The panel called for new leadership, ideally from outside the Secret Service, though it stopped short of recommending specific personnel changes. Other recommendations included:
- Establishing a unified command post for large events.
- Implementing overhead surveillance at all outdoor events.
- Creating security plans that mitigate risks up to 1,000 yards and clearly define roles of command.
- Providing more training on how to evacuate protectees during dangerous situations.
The report emphasized that the Secret Service must return to focusing primarily on its protective mission. While the agency is also responsible for investigating financial crimes, the panel expressed concern that such duties might be detracting from its primary goal of protection. The panel stressed that the agency’s protective mission was currently “suboptimal” and needed to be prioritized.
The panel that authored the report included notable figures such as Janet Napolitano, former Homeland Security Secretary, and Frances Fragos Townsend, former Homeland Security and counterterrorism advisor to President George W. Bush. Their findings echo previous recommendations made a decade ago after a man jumped the White House fence and evaded Secret Service officers to enter the building.
