Washington – The Secret Service has acknowledged significant communication failures and a lack of diligence among its agents in the shooting incident involving former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. stated, “It’s essential that we hold ourselves accountable for the failures of July 13 and learn from them to ensure we don’t experience another mission failure like this.” He emphasized, “We cannot afford to fail. This was a failure on the part of the United States Secret Service.”
An internal interim report revealed multiple lapses in communication and operational procedures leading up to the incident, including deficiencies in command and control. The Secret Service is responsible for ensuring security at events involving former presidents. Still, the agency had relied on local law enforcement to secure a building where the gunman had an unobstructed view of Trump.
Rowe indicated plans to expand the security perimeter around protectees, requiring additional resources. He mentioned potential disciplinary measures for some personnel but did not specify how many agents might face the consequences.
The agency is under intense scrutiny following the incident where a young gunman fired eight rounds at the rally, grazing Trump and injuring others before being shot by a Secret Service sniper. This incident raised questions about the adequacy of security measures and the thoroughness of pre-event sweeps.
In response to ongoing threats, Rowe noted, “We’ve been operating in a heightened threat environment since July 13,” and emphasized the necessity of maintaining high hiring standards despite increasing demands.
Additionally, a bill has been unanimously passed in the House to ensure that the same level of security is provided to presidential nominees as to the sitting president and vice president. This bill now moves to the Senate, underscoring the recognition that elections should be determined at the ballot box, not through violence.
Rowe concluded, “The threat is not waning and will not evaporate anytime soon.”
