A new Senate report has revealed that the U.S. Secret Service denied multiple requests to bolster President Donald Trump’s security during his 2024 campaign, a decision that may have contributed to the shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, one year ago. The shooting, in which Trump narrowly escaped injury, resulted in one death and two critical injuries, raising serious questions about the agency’s preparedness.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ report sheds light on at least ten security requests that were either denied or left unfulfilled, including crucial measures such as enhanced counter-drone systems, additional counter assault team personnel, and counter-snipers. The report underscores a lack of structured communication and systemic failures that contributed to the incident.
The tragic event unfolded on July 13, 2024, when a gunman, Thomas Crooks, opened fire on Trump from a rooftop during a rally. The president was grazed by a bullet in the ear, while the gunman killed one rallygoer before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper. According to the Senate report, the Secret Service’s failure to provide adequate security was a key factor in the shooting’s severity.
Sen. Rand Paul, who chaired the Senate Homeland Security Committee, described the Secret Service’s handling of the situation as a “cascade of errors.” He criticized the agency’s response, noting that the lack of accountability and transparency within the Secret Service was deeply troubling. “This report reveals a disturbing pattern of communication failures and negligence that culminated in a preventable tragedy,” Paul stated.
The report highlighted a particularly damning accusation: then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified falsely to Congress, claiming that no requests for additional support had been denied for the Butler rally. Cheatle resigned shortly after testifying, but the report pointed out discrepancies in her statement, notably the denial of a request for enhanced counter-drone systems. This denial was corroborated by Secret Service documents, contradicting previous claims made by Cheatle and acting Director Ronald Rowe, who testified that all security requests had been approved.
Moreover, the Senate report found that before the Butler shooting, the Secret Service had no formal process for submitting resource requests, which led to a lack of consistency in how requests were approved or denied. The agency’s failure to establish a clear response protocol contributed to unfilled security gaps, forcing local law enforcement to step in to fill the void.
The Senate committee also revealed a critical communication breakdown during the Butler rally. The agent responsible for coordinating communications between the Secret Service and local law enforcement, known as the “security room agent,” was poorly prepared for the role. Assigned just two days before the rally, this agent discovered a second command post only by overhearing conversations between Pennsylvania State Police officers. The lack of direct communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement agents hindered the ability to act on vital information, including the presence of a suspicious individual near the rally.
The report also noted that the security room agent failed to relay key information about a suspicious person carrying a range finder, which could have alerted the Secret Service to take action before Trump took the stage.
The Senate report further addressed the disciplinary actions taken against Secret Service personnel following the shooting. Six agents were suspended without pay, with suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days. However, the report criticized the fact that the security room agent, who failed to relay critical information, was not among those disciplined.
In response to the findings, Secret Service Director Sean Curran emphasized that the agency had already implemented significant reforms to address the failures exposed by the Butler incident. These include the introduction of military-grade drones and mobile command posts to improve the agency’s preparedness for future threats.
Despite the internal changes, the Senate report’s revelations have prompted calls for further accountability and oversight of the Secret Service. Lawmakers and experts have warned that the communication failures and unaddressed security gaps must be rectified to prevent a similar incident in the future. The report concludes that the Secret Service must continue working closely with Congress and local law enforcement to ensure the safety of political leaders and the public.
The agency has vowed to take “serious” measures to address the identified issues and enhance its operational capabilities. However, the question remains whether the reforms will be enough to restore public confidence in the Secret Service’s ability to protect those it is sworn to serve.
This report adds another layer to the ongoing investigations into the shooting and the actions of the Secret Service, with the public and lawmakers alike seeking answers on how such a preventable tragedy occurred.
