The Secret Service has announced changes in response to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. revealed that he visited the event site and was left feeling ashamed by the lack of security measures taken at the time. In order to prevent similar oversights in the future, Rowe has directed Secret Service personnel to ensure that every event site security plan is thoroughly vetted by multiple experienced supervisors before implementation.
Rowe believes there was ample time for planning and calls the incident a “failure on multiple levels.” Along with Trump, three others were struck by bullets; one of them died. The assassination attempt represents the Secret Service’s most significant operational failure in decades, according to former director Kimberly Cheatle.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Rowe as acting director. In response to the incident, the Secret Service has implemented enhanced protective measures such as expanded use of drones at sites and has strengthened protection for all individuals it protects. The agency is also conducting threat assessments for all protected individuals and has started protecting six new people, including Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Secret Service officials are working to ensure strong and effective protection at the Democratic National Convention following their work at the Republican National Convention. Rowe said that disciplinary action may be taken against some employees if an internal probe reveals misconduct, which could include termination. The Secret Service is conducting its own investigation, while the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general are also investigating the incident.
