Two oversight reports released on July 2, 2026, revealed serious coordination failures and alarming lapses by the U.S. Secret Service that contributed to the failed assassination attempt against Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. At the time, Trump was the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. He sustained a gunshot wound to the ear; one attendee was killed before law enforcement neutralized the shooter.
Two Minutes Too Late
The reports confirmed that the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had been spotted on the roof of the American Glass Research International building—armed with a rifle—approximately two minutes before he opened fire. Yet no timely alert was sent to the agents protecting Trump.
Critical Failures Identified
A recent report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified multiple systemic breakdowns:
- The Secret Service failed to detect a drone Crooks used to surveil the rally site—due to inadequate operator training and equipment malfunction.
- No warning was issued to agents surrounding Trump about Crooks’ presence on the rooftop or his long-range weapon, largely because there was no unified command center coordinating communication between federal and local authorities.
- The area outside the official event perimeter—later identified by Pennsylvania State Police as a vulnerability—was left unsecured despite prior warnings.
- Available resources were not deployed to block the shooter’s line of sight to Trump.
“The Secret Service’s overall lack of policy and procedure—combined with limited information sharing and poor coordination and communication with protective personnel and state and local agencies—created the conditions that allowed the attack to unfold without intervention,” the OIG report stated.
Chronic Understaffing
A second report found the agency was, on average, understaffed by 21.4% during fiscal years 2023 and 2024—relying heavily on overtime and support from other agencies to fill critical gaps.
Reforms Underway
In response, the Secret Service said it has already addressed many of the issues raised. In a statement, the agency emphasized: “The U.S. Secret Service today is a stronger and more capable organization than it was in 2024, thanks to significant institutional reforms and investments in technology, personnel, and operational security capabilities.”
The 2024 incident triggered a leadership overhaul within the agency—and renewed scrutiny of its ability to protect high-profile political figures amid evolving threats.