Senate outlines Secret Service failures at Trump rally, calls for new management

A new report from the Senate Homeland Security Committee found the Secret Service failed during both the planning and protective stages of Donald Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman tried to assassinate the former president. 

One of the lead investigators is now calling for a change in management at the Secret Service. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT: “There needs to be a change in management to provide for better leadership. The chain of command was absent in Pennsylvania. There was no accountability, no pinpointing of responsibility.” 

The report said the Secret Service failed to: 

• Clearly define responsibilities for planning and security and deflected blame,
• Properly secure the building the gunman climbed to fire eight shots, 
• Coordinate with state and local law enforcement,
• Provide proper resources, including extra drones and a counter surveillance unit.

It’s clear members of Congress don’t think those responsible have been sufficiently disciplined. 

Senator Rand Paul, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee said in a statement, “Someone needs to be held accountable for these egregious failures by the USSS, and despite USSS, DHS, FBI, ATF, and other federal agencies’ continued obstruction of our bipartisan investigation, I will continue to push for answers and accountability.” 

The report made multiple recommendations: 

• The Secret Service should designate a single individual responsible for approving all plans.
• The Secret Service needs to improve coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement.
• Congress should require the USSS to allocate assets and resources based on the threat level, not the position or title of the protectee.  
• They also suggest Congress evaluate the Secret Service budget and resources. 

In the meantime, the bill to temporarily fund the government through December 20 includes an additional $231 million dollars for the Secret Service to help it protect presidential candidates. The money is available until September 2025. 

Ray: Knowing what you know now is the supplemental funding in the CR sufficient to try to get through this final election period.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT: “This infusion of resources absolutely necessary as a start. There may be need for more but what’s really needed is not just more money, but better management, because throwing more dollars at the Secret Service isn’t going to provide for better protection.”

Ronald Rowe currently serves as Acting Director of the Secret Service, he was previously the deputy director. 

Presidents appoint the Director when there’s an opening. It’s likely the winner of the November election will appoint the next director after they are sworn in in January.