The Failure of the Secret Service: The Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump

On July 13th, former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt, highlighting the Secret Service's most significant operational failure in decades. Director Kimberly Cheatle, in her written testimony to the Oversight Committee, outlines the critical errors and challenges faced by the agency.

Good morning, Chairman Cummings and distinguished members of the Committee. It is with a heavy heart that I appear before you today to discuss the Secret Service's most significant operational failure in decades – the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13th.

The Secret Service's primary mission is to protect the President of the United States and other high-level officials. In the case of this assassination attempt, our agency failed to fulfill this critical duty. Our response was marred by a series of errors and failures that endangered the former President and exposed fundamental weaknesses in our operations.

The Failure of the Secret Service: The Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump

One of the most egregious failures occurred in the area of intelligence gathering. Despite receiving credible threats against the former President in the days leading up to the event, the Secret Service failed to take adequate precautions or disseminate the information to all relevant personnel. This intelligence breakdown allowed the assassin to evade detection and gain access to the protected area.

Another critical factor in this failure was a lack of effective communication both within the Secret Service and with the former President's security detail. The Secret Service did not establish a clear communication plan or provide timely updates to the former President, leaving him vulnerable to attack.

Beyond intelligence and communication breakdowns, the Secret Service's operational response was also deficient. Agents failed to follow established procedures for clearing the event venue, and there was a lack of situational awareness and coordination among the protective detail. These deficiencies contributed to the assassin's ability to penetrate the former President's security cordon.

In addition to the operational failures, there were also significant security breaches that allowed the assassin to gain access to the protected area. The perimeter fence was breached, and there were lapses in security checkpoints. These breaches exposed the vulnerability of the protective measures in place.

In the wake of this operational failure, the Secret Service has undertaken a comprehensive review and mitigation process. We have identified areas for improvement and implemented new protocols to prevent a similar incident from occurring. These changes include enhanced intelligence gathering, improved communication, and strengthened operational procedures.

The Secret Service is committed to regaining the trust of the American people and ensuring the safety of our protected persons. We are working tirelessly to address the failures identified in this incident and to rebuild our reputation as the premier protective agency in the world.

As we move forward, we request the support and oversight of this Committee to enhance our capabilities and ensure that such a catastrophic failure never occurs again. Your guidance and input are essential in strengthening the Secret Service and safeguarding our national leaders.

The assassination attempt on former President Trump serves as a stark reminder of the importance of our mission. We are grateful that the former President was unharmed, but we are deeply troubled by the failures that occurred. We will continue to investigate this incident thoroughly, implement necessary reforms, and restore the public's trust in the Secret Service. Thank you.