A Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs report has exposed multiple failures by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) in handling the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The attack resulted in one spectator’s death, two serious injuries, and Trump being grazed on the ear.
The report, released Wednesday, details serious lapses in planning, communication, and coordination between federal and local law enforcement, leading to significant security breaches.
Among the major failings was the denial of additional resources, such as more personnel and unmanned drones, which could have prevented the incident.
In one case, a Secret Service agent had to call a tech support hotline due to equipment issues.
The report highlights how a series of preventable errors allowed 20-year-old suspect Matthew Thomas Crooks to carry out the assassination attempt.
Investigators found that the USSS did not act on multiple warnings, including the sighting of a suspicious individual near the AGR building—where Crooks eventually fired from—27 minutes before the shooting.
Despite the reports being relayed to the security room and counter-sniper team, no action was taken to remove Trump from the stage.
One of the key issues identified was poor communication. A Secret Service counter-sniper saw local law enforcement rushing toward the AGR building with guns drawn but failed to notify Trump’s protective detail.
Despite having intelligence that prompted the unusual deployment of counter-snipers for Trump’s protection, the Secret Service failed to act on these threats in real-time.
Compounding these issues were technical and procedural failures. Malfunctioning radios and unclear chains of command further delayed the response. The special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office, who was supposed to coordinate the security effort, had no radio because he had given it to another agent.
Requests for additional resources, such as drones and counter-assault agents, were consistently denied without explanation, despite concerns raised by agents and local law enforcement about the AGR building’s rooftop—an obvious vantage point for a sniper.
These failures allowed Crooks to execute his attack before being neutralized by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
The Senate committee’s report offers several recommendations, including improving communication between federal and local law enforcement, establishing clearer leadership structures, and ensuring the allocation of necessary resources for high-profile events.
The report stresses the need for better coordination and intelligence gathering to prevent future threats.
The July 13 incident was followed by a second assassination attempt on Trump on September 15, 2024, when 58-year-old Ryan Routh was arrested for pointing a rifle at Trump from a tree line near Trump International Golf Club in Florida.
The Secret Service has yet to formally respond to the findings of the Senate report, which is expected to shape future security protocols for high-profile figures.
