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Secret Service Announces Overhaul of Security Measures Following Attempt on Trump’s Life
Following a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Secret Service has pledged substantial changes to his security detail. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called the incident a significant failure on the part of his agency.
Last Saturday, a shooter—identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks—opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania, resulting in one fatality and Trump sustaining minor injuries. This prompted an immediate response from USSS, with Director Kimberly Cheatle confirming the implementation of additional “security enhancements” beyond those established in June.
“When I say that something like this cannot happen, we are speaking of a failure,” Mayorkas stated in an interview with CNN. He refrained from detailing the reasons for the lapse in security, noting that a thorough investigation, initiated by President Biden and conducted independently of DHS, is underway.
Mayorkas emphasized the goal of the independent review is to determine the cause of the breach and recommend measures to ensure such an event does not occur again. Cheatle echoed these sentiments, highlighting ongoing collaborations with various law enforcement agencies to dissect the incident and prevent future occurrences.
USSS is committed to full cooperation with both the independent review and congressional investigations, several of which have already been announced. Cheatle and Mayorkas assured that the agency is ready for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which commenced on Monday.
“I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting,” Cheatle said.
The FBI leads the investigation into the shooting, with personnel from various offices actively involved and coordinating with other federal entities. No motive has been identified as of late Sunday.
Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have both launched an investigation into the assassination attempt. This probe will include private briefings with Biden administration officials, public hearings, and document requests. Both senators stressed the importance of understanding the sequence of events that led to the security breach.
“This committee has an obligation to unearth the truth about the failures on Saturday and before, no matter how inconvenient to the government,” Paul asserted. “We will leave no stone unturned.”
The House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and Homeland Security are conducting their own investigations, with Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), chairing the Homeland Security panel, seeking communications related to any requests for increased security for Trump. DHS and USSS have denied allegations of any ignored or unfulfilled security requests.
In response to the incident, some lawmakers are advocating for increased resources for the Secret Service, despite the agency receiving significant funding for fiscal 2024—$3.1 billion, a 9% increase from the previous year and higher than what Biden had requested. For fiscal 2025, Biden proposed flat funding at $2.9 billion, prior to the finalization of the 2024 budget, while House Republicans are pushing to raise the amount to $3.2 billion.
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