A U.S. Senate report released on Sunday strongly criticized the U.S. Secret Service for a “cascade” of failures that nearly led to the assassination of former President Donald Trump during a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report highlights negligence, communication breakdowns, and insufficient accountability following the attack.
On July 13, 2024, a 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire at a Trump rally, grazing the former president’s ear. One attendee was killed, and two others were injured before the gunman was shot and killed by Secret Service agents.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which released the report, did not mince words:
“This was not a single error. It was a cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life.”
The Secret Service, tasked with protecting current and former presidents, visiting foreign dignitaries, and high-level officials, was found to have exhibited a pattern of negligence in both planning and execution of the event’s security.
“This was not a single lapse in judgment. It was a complete breakdown of security at every level — fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats,” said Senator Rand Paul, the Republican chairman of the committee.
Following the assassination attempt, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned 10 days after the shooting under intense pressure. Six agents on duty during the event were suspended, receiving penalties ranging from 10 to 42 days. However, the committee deemed these disciplinary actions inadequate.
The report emphasized that more than six officials should have been punished, and two of those disciplined received lighter penalties than recommended. Notably, no one was fired.
Current Secret Service Director Sean Curran responded to the findings:
“Following the events of July 13, the Secret Service took a serious look at our operations and implemented substantive reforms to address the failures that occurred that day.”
He also confirmed the agency had received the report and would continue cooperating with the committee.