‘The US Secret Service stands at a crossroads.  ‘With “deep flaws” found within the agency by an independent panel, there is an urgent appeal for rapid reforms to prevent another assassination attempt last Saturday against Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13th.’ The report says it is a tale of complacency and failure of leadership that put national security at risk.

The Troubling State of the Secret Service

Released Thursday, the 52-page report details the extreme vulnerabilities that allowed an armed attack on the former president at his rally. The shooting took place with one man killed and Donald Trump injured but survived the attempt.  The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed on the scene by the Secret Service agents, but before they could stop, his shots breached the security perimeter.

The panel of state and national law enforcement experts was downright unanimous that the Secret Service had become “a bureaucratic, complacent, and static” organization.  It spoke of a number of operational failures and breakdowns in leadership that led to the attack, recommending with special candor how to overhaul the agency’s leadership.  One disturbing concern raised was the “troubling lack of critical thinking” by the staff and a pervasive fear of speaking up within the ranks.

Under Scrutiny

The report bluntly said, “Another Butler can and will happen again” if urgent reforms are not implemented.  Though the Secret Service has already admitted certain lapses and seen its director quit due to the attack, the independent review went further and asked for radical reform.  Removal of several top leaders was recommended as a way to regain confidence and operational effectiveness in the agency.

Acting Director Ronald Rowe, who had taken over after Rohrbacher’s resignation, welcomed the report.  He said that changes had been underway for some time now. “We’ve made very drastic improvements in readiness and protection operations for the former president,” said Rowe.  An internal memo, however, indicates his concerns about the recommendations, stating that he feared morale in the agency would suffer from them.

Systemic Failures and Future Threats

A report on Wednesday sounded a wake-up call for the Department of Homeland Security and the Biden administration, which ordered the bipartisan review following the July assassination attempt.  ‘The report called for “fundamental reform” and pointed toward some systemic and cultural issues within the agency that cannot be effectively tackled without broad-scale changes.  The panel warned that without reform, the Secret Service would remain vulnerable to further attacks on political leaders.’

In September, three months later, another gunman was identified lurking close to Trump’s Florida home at Palm Beach Trump International Golf Course. Police found him hiding outside the golf course with a rifle.  The suspect was arrested, once again underlining the persistence of risks and the necessity of beefing up security.

Way Forward: “Immediate Reforms Needed

The panel has recommended several measures that would strengthen the Secret Service’s capabilities, including requiring advanced overhead technology to monitor all outdoor events. It also urged a change in the leadership, which has become responsible for the fear and reluctance culture that prevents critical communication within the agency.

Fast action by the Secret Service would be the first thing that should help to regain people’s trust and prove that the country’s leaders are secure.  Those at the ground level can be trusted to continue with their duties, but an overhaul of the system seems to be the only remedy for the agency’s complex problems.

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