A federal watchdog report reveals the Secret Service failed to receive 102 radio warnings about a gunman at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally where former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, raising serious questions about the agency’s ability to protect presidential candidates.
Critical Communication Failures
The Office of Inspector General’s 64-page report, released June 30, found the Secret Service received only eight messages about the suspicious individual despite 102 radio transmissions circulating among local law enforcement. The agency failed to establish a joint communication room with local police, leaving agents unaware that Thomas Matthew Crooks possessed a range finder and long gun, and had positioned himself atop the American Glass Research International building.
'One of the most egregious mistakes at the highest level of government.'@BeverleyTurner and her panel react to a damning report reveals Secret Service agents knew about the presence of the gunman in the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/30uOYt08iE
— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 3, 2026
The missed communications included critical warnings that could have prevented the shooting. Local law enforcement tracked Crooks’ increasingly suspicious behavior, but Secret Service agents on Trump’s protective detail never received alerts. The breakdown in coordination allowed Crooks to open fire toward the stage, killing one bystander and wounding several others, including Trump, whose ear was grazed by a bullet.
Multiple Security Lapses Identified
Beyond communication failures, the report documented numerous security shortcomings that created conditions for the assassination attempt. The Secret Service failed to secure the perimeter around the rally site and did not block the line of sight from the building where Crooks positioned himself, despite identifying these areas as security concerns beforehand.
Counter-drone operations also failed critically. Crooks used a drone to surveil the rally stage, but Secret Service personnel did not detect it due to faulty equipment and inadequate training. The Technical Security Division never responded to an email requesting a counter-drone operator, forcing the assignment of undertrained personnel to the position.
The agency additionally failed to communicate intelligence about a long-distance threat against Trump to the Pittsburgh Field Office. Had this information been shared, the Special Agent in Charge confirmed additional personnel would have been deployed to the rally.
Agency Response and Leadership Changes
The Secret Service has accepted all seven recommendations from the Inspector General, including improvements to counter-drone measures, event security protocols, communication with local law enforcement, and addressing line-of-sight vulnerabilities. The agency has undergone significant leadership changes since the incident, with former director Kimberly Cheatle resigning days after the shooting amid bipartisan criticism. Sean Curran, previously the agent-in-charge of Trump’s security detail, has led the Secret Service since January 2025. The comprehensive failures documented in this report underscore the urgent need for institutional reform to prevent future security breaches.