Following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July, the Secret Service has initiated preliminary disciplinary measures against several agents. This marks the first action of its kind since the incident.
The special agent overseeing the Pittsburgh field office, responsible for security planning for Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is among those reassigned to “administrative duty.” As of Monday, at least five agents have been placed in this status. While these agents are removed from their operational roles, they are still required to report for work, including participating in discussions with lawmakers during an upcoming visit by a congressional task force investigating the shooting.
Secret Service agents reassigned to administrative duty following the assassination attempt on former President Trump in July
NBC News first reported these developments. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe had previously resisted calls to fire agents immediately, emphasizing the need for a thorough internal investigation before making judgments. Nevertheless, he committed to holding accountable those who failed to adhere to Secret Service protocols during the rally and the subsequent response to the shooting.
The Secret Service faces scrutiny following the incident, where shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to fire from within 150 yards of Trump. This attack resulted in one fatality, two injuries, and a bullet grazing the former president’s ear. The security perimeter set by the Secret Service did not cover the building from which Crooks fired.
The agency has not confirmed the specifics of the disciplinary actions but affirmed its commitment to investigating the incident. The Secret Service stated, “We are examining the processes, procedures, and factors that led to this operational failure. Any substantiated policy violations will be reviewed by the Office of Professional Responsibility for possible disciplinary measures. Due to the nature of this personnel matter, we cannot provide further details.”
The bipartisan task force assigned to review the security lapses will visit the Butler rally site on Monday as part of its investigation into the agency’s handling of the situation.
